Question 94 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Current Affairs

Question

The term 'IndARC', sometimes in the news, is the name of

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region

Strategy: Identify the 'ARC' in the name as an Arctic link and recall India's underwater observatory project. Reject options related to radar, satellites, or the Antarctic by focusing on the unique connection between IndARC and underwater Arctic research.

Key Info: IndARC is India's first underwater moored observatory in the Arctic, designed for long-term, real-time data collection on climate and ocean processes.

- **Location:** Kongsfjorden fjord, Svalbard, Norway, anchored at a depth of 192 metres.
- **Development:** A collaborative initiative by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- **Equipment:** Features ten diverse oceanographic sensors to monitor variables like temperature, salinity, ocean currents, pH, and dissolved oxygen.
- **Purpose:** Enables scientific studies on climate change, biogeochemical cycles, and the impact of Arctic processes on the Indian monsoon.
- **Context:** Strengthens India's polar research capabilities, complementing its Himadri station in Svalbard and its Antarctic programs.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: India's satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region