First ever Polar research ship to be deployed to Antarctica

According to Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju, India hopes to have its first Polar Research Vessel (PRV) within the next five years in order to maintain its bases in Antarctica. He mentioned how the Cabinet had authorised Rs 1,051 crore to purchase the vessel in 2014. For the same, a tender was also floated.As the company that had been given the order to build the ship raised several demands that were not covered by the tendering process, the government later abandoned the project.

“I have high hopes that we will be prepared to proceed in the Cabinet and offer this estimate this fiscal year. We should have the ship ready in the next five years, Mr. Rijiju said.
In order to support India’s outposts in the Arctic and Antarctic, the PRV will be essential. India now runs three polar research base stations, and ongoing access to these stations is necessary for carrying out a variety of scientific tasks, particularly those connected to climate change.