Union minister of earth sciences Kiren Rijiju said India’s winter expeditions to the Arctic will now be regularly undertaken annually.

“The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will make necessary budgetary and other allocations, provide administrative support for the winter expeditions to the Arctic, which will now be regularly undertaken annually,” the minister said.Rijiju added, “The Arctic and the Antarctic are very crucial from the point of view of climate study. Since Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s aim is to provide a great push in the field of science, our ministry has decided to make Himadri—India’s station in the Arctic—fully functional throughout the year. By the time this team returns, the next team will be ready for their journey ahead.”

      MoES officials said that the Norwegian government will be providing logistical and other support to the visiting Indian team since it will be the maiden mission for the Indian team.

      India’s first research station at the International Arctic Research base, Himadri, is located at a distance of 1,200kms from the North Pole.