Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: India, through the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), is set to host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26).
- The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, established Antarctica as a region for peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation, and environmental protection.
- In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Treaty.
Key items on the agenda include sustainable management of Antarctica, biodiversity prospecting, climate change response, tourism framework development, and conservation of Antarctic biodiversity.
