The Antarctic Programme: Advancing India’s Geostrategic and Scientific Footprint in the White Continent
India's foray into Antarctic geopolitics began in 1955–56 with “The Antarctic Question,” marking the country's official intervention under then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. As historian Sarvepalli Gopal observed, Nehru’s geopolitical vision was rooted in advocating world peace and fostering solidarity among post-colonial nations, positioning India as a diplomatic force on global platforms traditionally dominated by Western powers. However, this peaceful intervention in the ‘White Continent’ was met with resistance from major international players.[1] Ironically, just four years later, in December 1959, the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) was established. Consultative Parties agreed to uphold Antarctica as a politically neutral space, safeguarding it from resource exploitation under the guise of expansion.
India’s direct scientific engagement with Antarctica began in 1981 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi oversaw the nation's first expedition to the South Pole. This milestone paved the way for India to sign the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, securing its status as a Consultative Party with a say in the governance of the continent. India has cemented its position as a significant player in Antarctic affairs through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). The country has also hosted the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) twice—in 2007 and 2024—strengthening its multilateral engagements with both Consultative and Non-Consultative Parties of the ATS.
As India aspires to shape its influence within the Antarctic Treaty System, key questions arise: What does the future hold for India’s geopolitical presence in Antarctica? How can the country assert its strategic interests in a region fraught with competing claims and contested governance? This article explores India's evolving role in Antarctic geopolitics and the path ahead in navigating the complexities of international negotiations over the world’s last frontier.
The Current Scenario
As the year 2048 is drawing closer, it should be noted that there is a provision under the Antarctic Treaty wherein any one of the Consultative Parties to the ATS can “call for a review conference for the assessment and operations of the Protocol” and that would take place in 2048. However, it should be noted that any amendment or modification will be adopted only if the majority of the Consultative Parties at the time of signing the Treaty accept the decision. Despite the clearly defined protocols, Antarctica is threatened to be the subject of a territorial war due to climate and resource scarcity crises.
Hence, this “deadline” provides a lot of contexts as to why countries are aggressively fighting for more claims as opposed to the unofficial territorial allegations made by seven sovereign countries: Argentina (1940), Australia (1933), Chile (1940), France (1924), New Zealand (1923), Norway (1939) and the United Kingdom (1917). Countries like China, Russia and India have always denied these claims, and it is evident that China and Russia, through their expansive foreign policies, are becoming ambitious to strengthen their claims over the continent as it can prove to be integral to their political influence worldwide.
Geopolitical and Technological Challenges
India has two functional stations in the Antarctic: Maitri and Bharati, and an abandoned station, Dakshin Gangotri, which was submerged under the icy sheets. India is also constructing a new station with advanced technological equipment to assist and further our research activities on the Southern Pole, which is expected to be completed by 2029. In 2022, India also passed its first “Indian Antarctic Act” to regulate its activities in Antarctica. The global powers have recognized such measures and helped India secure a vital position in the continent's geopolitics. However, there are a few areas that India needs to work on progressively:
India’s very own Research Vessel: Even after 44 scientific expeditions to the Antarctic, India doesn’t have its own Polar Research Vessel, and Indian scientists have been strongly demanding the acquisition of an independent Research Vessel to facilitate more control and coordination over our polar research activities. Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju observed in 2023 that India is taking all the measures to build a Polar Research Vessel, which is expected to be completed by 2030.
Scientific Avenues and Collaborations: Antarctica provides a lot of scope for new scientific research and advancements. India must consider furthering its partnership with like-minded countries to undertake testing and critical technological research. For example, in 2017, an MoU was signed between the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), and Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) for the research of atmospheric sciences. Similarly, India has attempted to engage in multilateral geopolitical and scientific initiatives through BRICS.[2] Hence, the Government of India should urge all public and private research centres in India to positively assert their positions in furthering the research in quantum communications, cryptography, computing, sensing and other related domains, which will hugely impact India’s scientific advancements worldwide. Recently, the government of India allocated Rs 6,003 crores to upscale the country’s scientific and industrial research in the development of quantum technologies, which will prove to be a well-thought investment in our future in Polar sciences.[3]
Prospects for Tourism in Antarctica: India has also started promoting and regulating Indian tourism in Antarctica, which can also improve the country’s political position in the region. It has also been received warmly at the ATCM meetings. It might be an emerging area of revenue for Indian tourist and cruise companies, considering it sticks to its commitment towards compliance with all the anti-pollution and environmental preservation regulations and laws in the Polar waters (Annexure VI, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships).
Antarctic Krill Industry: The Antarctic Krill Industry’s demand has risen significantly worldwide,[4] and recent reports show that countries like Norway, China and South Korea have been expanding their claim on this industry. Scholars have suggested that India needs to develop strategies and frameworks to profit from the Antarctic Krill Fishery. Antarctic Krill is widely sought out because of its nutritional benefits, as it is rich in proteins and, specifically, Omega-3 fatty acids. India also has a huge domestic demand for seafood because of the long coastlines, and scholars predict that it would be a profitable business for the pisciculture industries in India. However, there is a strict need for regulations and legal frameworks to prohibit the exploitation of Antarctic Krill just for the sake of profits and expansion of the control and claim over resources.
Antarctic Bioprospecting: In my opinion, it would be more sustainable and environmentally friendly for India to invest in the research of Antarctic “bioprospecting” (research for plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs, biochemicals, and other commercially valuable material can be obtained), owing to the presence of a plethora of microorganisms in the Antarctic continent. India’s pharmaceutical research is considered one of the most developed industries with global recognition, and according to records, our nation has also filed several patents under their research and discoveries in Antarctic bioprospecting. It also opens up wide avenues for employment and advancement of research and development strategies in microbiology, biotechnology, and medicine. The government must sponsor and encourage scientists, researchers, and students from related fields to partake in scientific expeditions to the Antarctic for a robust R&D system and to further our position as an emerging scientifically advanced power in the Antarctic discourses.
Environmentalism Vs Exploitation
With its futuristic ambitions and goals in the scientific and geopolitical spaces, India should not forget that its foreign policies in the Polar regions should also prioritize the environmental and climate impacts of conducting activities in the Antarctic continent. Expansion and development should occur sustainably, in adherence to preserving the planet's environmental resources, and commit to global partnerships to combat climate change issues.
Scholars predict that in 2048, all the Parties might collectively decide to unethically and unilaterally usurp more territorial claims over the region, which is rich in oil, food and land resources (currently prohibited by the Antarctic laws). One should also note the drastic consequences of Climate Change, which has slowly started affecting the Polar regions, especially the continent of Antarctica. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “over the past 50 years, the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula has been one of the most rapidly warming parts of the planet. This warming is not only restricted to the land but can also be noted in the Southern Ocean. Upper ocean temperatures to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula have increased over 1°C since 1955. It has now been established that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is warming more rapidly than the global ocean.” With the depletion of ice sheets and alarmingly warmer temperatures at sea, the world is at threat of apocalyptic events taking place as a result of these unethical, exploitative activities.
Conclusions
India’s growing influence in the Antarctic region will be shaped by its commitment to scientific research, environmental conservation, and strategic diplomacy within the Antarctic Treaty System. As global interest in the Polar regions intensifies—driven by climate change, resource potential, and geopolitical competition—India must align its Antarctic ambitions with the principles of peace, sustainability, and scientific collaboration, echoing Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of international engagement. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has prioritized self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), technological innovation, and sustainable development, reinforcing its role as a global stakeholder in climate action and Polar governance. India must leverage its scientific expertise and diplomatic outreach to fortify its position in the ATS, enhance research infrastructure (such as modernizing the Bharati and Maitri stations), and build strategic collaborations with key Consultative Parties.
As Antarctica becomes an increasingly contested geopolitical space, India must proactively shape policies that protect its long-term strategic interests while upholding environmental stewardship and multilateral cooperation. By investing in cutting-edge research, deep-sea exploration, and sustainable resource management, India can solidify its status as a leading voice in Antarctic affairs, ensuring its scientific advancements and strategic investments translate into enduring global influence in the Polar region.
Notes
[1] Chaturvedi, S. (2013). Rise and Decline of Antarctica in Nehru’s Geopolitical Vision: Challenges and Opportunities of the 1950s. The Polar Journal, 3(2), 301–315.
[2] Verma, K. (2024). India's Emerging Role in Polar Diplomacy. Indian Council of World Affairs.
[3] Sharma, B. (2023). India and the Emerging Geopolitics of the Antarctic. Strategic Analysis, 47(6), 520–533.
[4] Lam, R. (2024, November 21). Fishing Rows Leave Antarctic Protections Dead in the Water. Dialogue Earth.