Indian Scientific Antarctic Expeditions. India has so far launched 19 Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica since 1981. Sappers have played a major role in India’s exploration of the frozen Continent. Our major contribution includes construction of the first shelf station Dakshin Gangotri, construction of India’s first permanent station ‘Maitri’, providing summer and winter station maintenance crew and opening up routes of maintenance. The present contingent consists of 01 Officer and 04 JCOs/ORs.