National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research


The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, formerly known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa. It is an autonomous Institution of the Department of Ocean Development, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India which is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintains the Indian government's Antarctic research stations, Bharati and Maitri. NCPOR was established on 25 May 1998, with Dr. Prem Chand Pandey as its founding director. NCPOR is known for its participation in global experiments, hosting of international conferences and in the leadership of international committees concerned with Antarctic science.
At present, NCPOR is an agency working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India since 2006, by the notification of the President of India.
NCPOR complex is a home to a special low-temperature laboratory and is setting up a National Antarctic Data Centre and a Polar Museum.
The NCPOR operates in different fields or tasks:
This centre was previously referred to as the Antarctic Study Centre. It came into existence with joining of Dr. P. C. Pandey as the director on 12 May 1997.