Why in News?

Ministry of Finance has given in-principle approval for setting up Maitri II.

• About: India’s upcoming & 4^th research station in Antarctica, to be completed by Jan 2029; strengthens India’s scientific presence under Antarctic Treaty System (1959); replaces old Maitri station (1989).
• Nodal Agency: Led by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under
• Features:
  • Bigger than original Maitri, planned as a "green research base."
  • Uses solar power for summer & wind energy to harness Antarctic winds.
  • Automated instruments enable data relay to India even when unmanned.
• Significance:
  • Antarctica holds 75% of Earth’s freshwater; studying ice sheets aids sea-level rise forecasts.
  • Crucial for understanding untapped mineral deposits, marine biodiversity, and ecological baselines.
  • Reinforces India’s role in global climate & polar governance.