Pin code MH-1718: In Antarctica, a post office with Indian address

Subject: Geography

Section: Mapping

Context:

Almost four decades later, letters meant for Antarctica will now have a new PIN code, MH-1718, with the Department of Posts opening a second branch of the post office on Bharati research station in Antarctica.

More on news:

India’s two research bases on Antarctica i.e. Maitri and Bharati are located 3,000 km apart.
Both branches are part of the Goa postal division.
In 1984, shortly after India’s first foray to Antarctica, its first post office on the icy continent was set up at Dakshi Gangotri — the nation’s first scientific base there.
Dakshin Gangotri submerged in ice in 1988-89 and was subsequently decommissioned.
On January 26, 1990, a post office branch was set up at India’s Maitri research station on Antarctica.
The impression, ‘Maitri North Goa’, from the Antarctic research base is a famed “collector’s item”.

PINCODE MH-1718:

Almost four decades later, letters meant for Antarctica will now have a new PIN code, MH-1718, with the Department of Posts opening a second branch of the post office on Bharati research station in Antarctica.
The letters meant for the post office in Antarctica are sent to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), the nodal agency for India’s polar expeditions, in Goa.
An Indian post office can only be in the jurisdiction of Indian land.
Antarctica gives a unique opportunity to have an Indian post office in a land which is foreign and does not belong to us.
So, it serves a strategic purpose in terms of asserting presence on the continent.

What is Cancellation:

When a scientific expedition to the continent leaves from the NCPOR, a researcher is usually tasked with carrying the consignment of letters.
At the research base, the letters are ‘canceled’, brought back, and returned via post.
Cancellation is a marking on a postage stamp or stationery done to deface the stamp and prevent reuse.
Typically, ‘canceled’ letters include the date and post office location where the stamps were mailed.

Research stations in Antarctic:

Dakshin Gangotri

Dakshin Gangotri was the first Indian scientific research base station established in Antarctica, as a part of the Indian Antarctic Program.
It has weakened and become just a supply base.

Maitri

Maitri is India’s second permanent research station in Antarctica.
It was built and finished in Maitri and is situated on the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis.
India also built a freshwater lake around Maitri known as Lake Priyadarshini.

Bharti

Bharti, India’s latest research station operation since 2012.
It has been constructed to help researchers work in safety despite the harsh weather.
It is India’s first committed research facility and is located about 3000 km east of Maitri.

About Indian Antarctic Program:

The Indian Antarctic Programme is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional programme under the control of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
It was initiated in 1981 with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica.
The programme gained global acceptance with India’s signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983,superseded by the Maitri base from 1989.
The newest base commissioned in 2012 is Bharati.
The Indian Antarctic Programme is bound by the rules of the Antarctic Treaty System, which India signed in 1983.
The expedition will duly follow all protocols for the deployment of men and material as per Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs(COMNAP).

About COMNAP

It is an international association, formed in 1988, which brings together our Members – the governmental National Antarctic Programs.
Countries engaging in Antarctic research that are also signatories to the Antarctic Treaty and the Environmental Protocol may participate in COMNAP.
COMNAP is one of only three permanent Observer organizations to the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs).