**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Earth Sciences is significantly enhancing India’s polar and ocean research capabilities through new infrastructure and a major fleet expansion under the 'Make in India' initiative. Key developments include the operationalization of Polar and Sagar Bhavan facilities and the scheduled commissioning of a new Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) by early 2028. Additionally, a phased induction of three specialized research vessels is planned to begin in 2030 to replace aging fleet assets.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Advanced Research Infrastructure**
* **Polar Bhavan:** Houses advanced laboratories and analytical instruments for polar geosciences, deep-ocean mineral exploration, and climate dynamics.
* **Sagar Bhavan:** Features ultra-low temperature ice-core labs, cold storage, and metal-free clean rooms for precise geochemical and isotope analyses.
* **Public Outreach:** Includes the ‘Science on a Sphere’ facility and an upcoming Polar and Ocean Museum to promote scientific collaboration and education.
* **Strategic Research Objectives**
* **Integrated Investigations:** Supports scientific studies across the Antarctic, Arctic, Himalayan cryosphere, and surrounding oceans.
* **Interdisciplinary Studies:** Enables research in glaciology, polar biology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography to generate high-quality scientific knowledge.
* **Sample Preservation:** Establishes a systematically managed cryospheric sample repository for the secure preservation of samples from polar and high-altitude environments.
* **Vessel Procurement and Fleet Modernization**
* **New ORV (2028):** A new Oceanographic Research Vessel is being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with an outlay of Rs 900 Crores, targeted for commissioning in early 2028.
* **Fleet Expansion (2030):** In-principle approval has been granted for a Polar Research Vessel (PRV), an ORV, and a Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) with a total outlay of Rs 4319.40 Crores.
* **Fleet Replacement:** The new vessels will replace the aging (40+ years) ORV Sagar Kanya and FORV Sagar Sampada to augment year-round research in the Indian Ocean and polar regions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)**
**Impact**
The Ministry is responsible for managing a significant increase in institutional capacity and a substantial financial outlay for maritime infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Must oversee the timely construction and commissioning of the new ORV by 2028 and coordinate the phased induction of the three additional vessels starting in 2030.
**Scientific Community and Researchers**
**Impact**
Researchers gain access to state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, advanced analytical tools, and a strengthened repository for long-term monitoring and comparative analysis.
**Action Required**
Utilize the new facilities for interdisciplinary studies and contribute to India’s global climate commitments through data sharing and international cooperation.
**Domestic Shipbuilding Industry (e.g., GRSE)**
**Impact**
Beneficiary of the 'Make in India' initiative through high-value contracts for advanced research vessels.
**Action Required**
Adhere to the construction schedule to ensure the first new ORV is ready for commissioning by early 2028 and prepare for subsequent vessel inductions.
**International Scientific Partners**
**Impact**
Increased opportunities for collaborative scientific investigations and improved evidence-based understanding of global climate variability.
**Action Required**
Engage with Indian institutions for joint research efforts and utilize the expanded capacity for international scientific cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): The primary government body responsible for India's polar and ocean research, overseeing the development of new infrastructure and research vessels.
Polar Research Programme: India's long-term scientific framework for conducting integrated investigations across the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalayan cryosphere.
Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan: Newly constructed research facilities in Delhi featuring advanced laboratories, ice-core labs, and repositories for cryospheric samples.
Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV): A new research ship designed for marine mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean, part of a fleet renewal to replace aging vessels.
Make in India: The national initiative under which the Ministry is indigenously building new research vessels at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STRENGTHENING
POLAR AND OCEAN RESEARCH
Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 12:49PM by PIB Delhi
The construction of new Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan facilities has strengthened India's research
capabilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The newly constructed Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan
facilities significantly strengthen India’s research capabilities in the Polar regions. Different types of
samples collected during the annual scientific expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean and
Himalayas are being processed at the advanced laboratories and analytical instruments housed at the Polar
Bhavan enabling cutting-edge studies in polar geosciences, deep-ocean mineral exploration, and climate
dynamics. The ‘Science on a Sphere’ facility and upcoming Polar and Ocean Museum promote scientific
outreach and global collaboration. Sagar Bhavan’s ultra-low temperature ice-core labs, cold storage, and
metal-free clean rooms support critical climate and cryosphere research, enabling precise geochemical and
isotope analyses. Collectively, these facilities strengthen India’s institutional capacity to conduct advanced
scientific research, preserve valuable cryospheric samples, and promote knowledge dissemination in the
field of polar and ocean studies.
The Polar and Sagar Bhavan facilities shall support India’ long-term Polar Research Programme and
global climate commitments by:
providing support for integrated scientific investigations across the Antarctic and Arctic regions,
while also complementing research efforts in the Himalayan cryosphere and surrounding oceans.
providing advanced laboratory capabilities, infrastructure will enable interdisciplinary studies in
glaciology, climate science, polar biology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography, thereby
reinforcing India’s capacity to generate high-quality scientific knowledge on polar and cryospheric
processes.
systematically managing cryospheric sample repository that will ensure the secure preservation of
valuable samples collected from polar and high-altitude environments. This strengthened repository
will facilitate long-term monitoring, comparative analyses, and future research, thereby expanding
opportunities for collaborative scientific investigations at national and international levels.
Collectively, these facilities will play a pivotal role in advancing India’s long-term Polar Research
Programme, supporting evidence-based understanding of climate variability and cryosphere
dynamics. The strengthened research capacity will also contribute meaningfully to India’s global
climate commitments, including improved climate observations, data sharing, and international
scientific cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
India is significantly advancing its polar and ocean research through the 'Make in India' initiative.
Currently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is building a new Oceanographic Research Vessel
(ORV) at the M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with financial outlay of Rs
900 Crores and tentatively scheduled for commissioning in early 2028. The vessel is designed to bolster
marine mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean region.Additionally, the Ministry has received an in-principle approval to build a Polar Research Vessel (PRV),
an Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV), and a Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) with a
financial outlay of Rs 4319.40 Crores. As proposed, the vessels are planned to be inducted stage wise
beginning in the year 2030. The PRV is envisioned to undertake multidisciplinary Annual Indian
Scientific Expeditions to Antarctic and Indian scientific endeavours in the polar and ocean realm
throughout the year, the ORV shall facilitate the oceanographic research operations, throughout the year in
Indian Ocean region and beyond, as replacement for the ageing (40+ year old) vessel ORV Sagar Kanya
and the FORV shall augment fishery research operations, throughout the year in Indian Ocean region and
beyond, as replacement for the ageing (40+ year old) vessel FORV Sagar Sampada.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences and
Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in Rajya Sabha on 19 March 2026.
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