National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is an autonomous R&D institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). NCPOR spearheads India’s research activities in the Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean, and the Himalayas. India’s exploration of polar regions began in 1981 with the Indian Antarctic Expedition. The institution expanded its scope to Southern Ocean research in 2004, followed by the Arctic in 2007, and initiated Himalayan cryosphere research activities in 2013. In 2010, Indian scientists traversed to the South Pole for the first time. NCPOR also serves as the nodal agency for major deep sea explorations of scientific and strategic importance. 

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As the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) celebrates its 25th Foundation Day, the centre takes immense pride in reflecting its journey as one marked by scientific curiosity, relentless exploration, and pioneering discoveries in some of Earth’s most extreme environments. From the icy expanses of the Antarctica and the Arctic to the rugged terrains of the Himalayas and the depths of our oceans, NCPOR has been at the forefront of advancing India’s presence in polar and ocean sciences.