The term ‘IndARC’ sometimes seen in the news is the name of

The correct answer is D. IndARC is India's underwater observatory in the Arctic, installed off Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, Norway, and inaugurated in 2014 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with NCPOR coordinating the science. It continuously records ocean parameters such as temperature, currents and sound, which helps in studying Arctic climate change and its link to the Indian monsoon.

• A is wrong. Indian radars such as Rajendra or Ashwini are defence sensors. IndARC has nothing to do with radar.
• B is wrong. India's regional satellite services come from the GSAT-9 (SAARC satellite) and the NavIC navigation system for the Indian region. IndARC is not a satellite.
• C is wrong. India's Antarctic presence is Maitri and Bharati. IndARC is in the Arctic, which is the opposite pole.

Core concept: India's polar programme covers both poles, and it is run by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. For Mains, link this to India's observer status in the Arctic Council (2013), the Svalbard Treaty, and the need for scientific presence in polar regions for climate and monsoon research.

Trap: Candidates mix up Arctic and Antarctic and pick C, assuming any Indian polar station is in Antarctica.