Antarctic Treaty

Published on 27 Nov 2024

• India hosted the 46th session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46), also referred to as the Antarctic Parliament, in Kochi.

• The Antarctic Treaty 1959 was signed in Washington initially by 12 countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR).

• It entered into force in 1961 and presently there are 56 Parties to the Treaty including India.

• As per the treaty “Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only”.

• The Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• To give effect to the treaty, India passed the Indian Antarctic Act, 2022.

Keywords:

Antarctic Treaty india India and Antarctic region