Which among the following are India's permanent and operational research stations in Antarctica?
- (a)Bharati and Arya
- (b)Bharati and Dakshin Gangotri
- (c)Bharati and Maitri
- (d)Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri
Correct — C, Bharati and Maitri. As of 2021 India operates two permanent, functional research stations in Antarctica: Maitri (commissioned 1989, in the Schirmacher Oasis) and Bharati (commissioned 2012, in the Larsemann Hills). India's first station, Dakshin Gangotri (1983), was decommissioned in 1990 after it was buried in ice and now serves only as a supply base — it is no longer an operational research station. Hence only Bharati and Maitri are currently permanent and operational.
- (a)Bharati and Arya — Wrong — there is no Indian Antarctic station called 'Arya'; the name is fictitious, so this pair cannot be correct.
- (b)Bharati and Dakshin Gangotri — Wrong — Dakshin Gangotri was decommissioned in 1990 (submerged in ice) and is no longer an operational research station, so this pair is invalid.
- (d)Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri — Wrong — it includes the defunct Dakshin Gangotri; the operational pair is Maitri and Bharati, not Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri.
India's Antarctic programme is run by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR, Goa) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. India has built three Antarctic stations — Dakshin Gangotri (1983, now defunct), Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012) — of which two, Maitri and Bharati, are currently operational. India also runs Himadri, a station in the Arctic (Svalbard), since 2008.
The trap uses Dakshin Gangotri, famous as India's first Antarctic base, even though it is no longer operational, plus a fabricated name ('Arya'). The rule to remember: first = Dakshin Gangotri (decommissioned); currently operational = Maitri + Bharati.
- India's operational Antarctic stations (2021): Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012).
- Dakshin Gangotri (1983) was India's first Antarctic base; decommissioned in 1990 after being buried in ice.
- The programme is coordinated by NCPOR, Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- India's Arctic research station is Himadri, at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (since 2008).
- Treating Dakshin Gangotri as still operational when it was decommissioned in 1990
- Accepting fabricated station names such as 'Arya', or confusing the Antarctic stations with the Arctic Himadri
UPPSC and UPSC ask 'India's operational Antarctic stations are' or pair stations with regions — remember Maitri and Bharati are active, Dakshin Gangotri is decommissioned.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
India's first research station in Antarctica, now decommissioned, was:
- (a)Maitri
- (b)Bharati
- (c)Dakshin Gangotri
- (d)Himadri
Answer(c) Dakshin Gangotri — set up in 1983 and abandoned by 1990 after being buried in ice.
- practice — not a real PYQ
India's research station located in the Arctic region is named:
- (a)Maitri
- (b)Himadri
- (c)Bharati
- (d)Gangotri
Answer(b) Himadri — India's Arctic station at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, operational since 2008.