Team Goemkarponn
MORMUGAO: In a landmark development for India’s scientific capabilities, Union Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday inaugurated “Polar Bhavan” and “Sagar Bhavan” at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa. These two state-of-the-art facilities are the first of their kind in India and among the very few globally.
The inauguration coincided with NCPOR’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. The Minister also launched the “Science On Sphere (SOS)” initiative, a 3D visualisation platform for displaying climate and earth systems data, and unveiled a documentary chronicling NCPOR’s 25-year journey. A virtual walkthrough of the proposed Polar and Ocean Museum was also showcased.
Polar Bhavan, now the largest building on the NCPOR campus, covers 11,378 square metres and has been constructed at a cost of ₹55 crore. It includes cutting-edge laboratories for polar and ocean research, 55 rooms for scientific staff, a conference room, seminar hall, library, and canteen. It also houses the SOS platform and will eventually accommodate India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum.
Sagar Bhavan spans 1,772 square metres and cost ₹13 crore. It features two ice core laboratories maintained at -30°C and storage units at +4°C for preserving sediment and biological samples. The building also includes 29 rooms, including a metal-free Class 1000 clean room for trace metal and isotope analysis.
Dressed in heavy Antarctic clothing, Dr. Singh visited the Minus 20°C lab section and highlighted that the new infrastructure places NCPOR among a select group of global institutions with integrated capabilities in polar and ocean research.
Referring to ocean geopolitics, Dr. Singh said that institutions like NCPOR would enhance India’s strategic and scientific presence in global affairs. He stressed the urgency of monitoring polar ice melt, warning that the melting of polar ice—holding nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater—could severely impact low-lying coastal regions, including India’s over-1,000 km-long coastline.
He cited the Prime Minister’s emphasis on the Blue Economy and Deep Ocean Mission as key national priorities, adding that India’s polar research footprint now includes regions such as the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and the Central Arctic Ocean.
Dr. Singh also highlighted the importance of India’s Arctic Policy (2022) and the Indian Antarctic Act (2022), calling them frameworks for responsible, science-led exploration and environmental protection.
Concluding his visit, Dr. Singh reiterated that the newly inaugurated facilities would not only advance India’s scientific reach but also support the country’s strategic participation in global climate and ocean initiatives.
