60th anniversary of the Antarctic treaty

• The 60th anniversary of the Antarctic treaty has been celebrated
• The is the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent.

Treaty:

• It was signed in December 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only.
• The treaty entered into force in 1961 and currently has 54 parties.
• India became a member of this treaty in 1983.
• Antarctica is defined as all the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
• Antarctic Treaty Secretariat Headquarters: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Major Provisions:

• Freedom of scientific research.
• Use the continent for peaceful purposes only.
• Prohibition of military activities, nuclear tests and disposal of radioactive waste.
• Limit for making a new claim or enhancement of an existing claim.

Antarctic Treaty System:

• This is the whole complex of arrangements aimed at regulating relations between states in the Antarctic.
• These agreements are legally binding.

Indian Antarctic Program:

• It is a scientific research and exploration program under the National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
• It started in 1981 when the first Indian expedition to Antarctica was made.

South Gangotri:

• India's first Antarctic research base, established in 1983.
• It is located at a distance of 2500 km from the South Pole.
• It was abandoned after being submerged in ice in 1988–89 and was closed in 1990.

Friendship:

• India's second research base in Antarctica, established in 1989.
• Friendship is at Shirmakar Oasis.
• Nearby is a fresh water lake named Priyadarshini.

Indian:

• Third research center launched by India.
• It was established in 2012
• Along with Bharati, India is one of nine countries in the Antarctic Circle to have more than one research base.
• It is located near Larsman Hill