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MAY 22: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated two world-class research facilities—Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan—at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa. These first-of-their-kind infrastructures in India are poised to significantly enhance the country’s capabilities in polar and ocean studies, placing NCPOR among a select global league of integrated marine research institutions.
Inaugurated during the Silver Jubilee of NCPOR, the event marked a major milestone in India’s scientific journey. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Singh highlighted that the new facilities would not only strengthen India’s research footprint but also increase its role in global ocean geopolitics, an area of rising international importance. He emphasized that these developments align with the government’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat by 2047” and the strategic objectives under India’s Blue Economy roadmap.
Polar Bhavan, the larger of the two facilities, spans over 11,000 square metres and includes specialized laboratories for polar and ocean science, residential quarters, seminar spaces, and India’s first-ever Polar and Ocean Museum. It also hosts the newly launched Science On Sphere (SOS) platform—a cutting-edge 3D visualization system for displaying climate and earth system data.
Sagar Bhavan, covering nearly 1,800 square metres, features state-of-the-art laboratories with extreme cold storage facilities, including -30°C ice core labs and a Class 1000 clean room for trace metal and isotope studies.
Dr. Singh stressed the urgency of monitoring polar ice melt, noting expert concerns that 70% of the world’s freshwater is locked in polar ice. Significant melting could cause rising sea levels, posing serious threats to India’s extensive coastline and triggering environmental and socio-economic challenges.
The Minister commended NCPOR’s role in maintaining India’s research presence across critical regions including Antarctica (Maitri, Bharati), the Arctic (Himadri), and the Himalayas (Himansh). He also highlighted recent expansions into the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and Central Arctic Ocean.
Citing India’s Arctic Policy and the Indian Antarctic Act (2022), Dr. Singh reaffirmed the country’s commitment to science-led, environmentally responsible exploration. He concluded by noting that these new facilities will enable deeper global partnerships and further India’s strategic engagement in the evolving domain of ocean and climate science.