Mr Shailesh Nayak, secretary of the ministry of earth sciences, said: “We want to test all the systems: the water, food, and everything. It has to be tested for one full season.” If the base, named Bharati, passes the tests, the scientific team will go there to start its research in the eastern Larsemann Hills region of the icy landmass.

“We will have many experiments related to geological aspects,” said Mr Nayak. “As this was the area attached to India, we want to understand how Antarctica broke away.” He said the scientists would also study whether climate change has led to “major mass changes”, and to look at what is behind the differences in melting patterns in the west and the east.

Prospective coal, oil, gas and uranium resources have led to a growing interest in Antarctica, and a growing number of research bases there. India's most recent base has met with some criticism, particularly from Australia, said Prof. Klaus Dodds at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Australia claims 42 per cent of Antarctica, and is wary, as countries like India and China are increasing their presence, that “it might not make good its claim” when the 1959 Antarctic Treaty ~ and the environmental protocol which prevents mining ~ expire in 2048. The new Bharati base is within the territory claimed by Australia.

The treaty states that there should be no conflicts, military presence, or nuclear facilities in Antarctica. It also says that any territorial tiffs have to be put aside in the interests of scientific cooperation.

But there have been grumbles that India “has not worked with partners as closely as they might have” when it came to the Bharati base, Prof. Dodds said. Larsemann Hills is in a special zone, known as an Antarctica Specially Managed Area.

Activities within these areas are supposed to be well-coordinated by governments, to prevent any interference or environmental problems. But “India just announced it was going to create a base, without any consultation”, said Prof. Dodds.

There were other complaints also, he said. “Australia felt that India has not really approached the creation of the base in a way that was mindful of the environmental impact.” Some also cast doubts on Indian motives for being there, suggesting the base was “created perhaps more for geo-strategic reasons, with India wanting to enhance their presence, rather than scientific research”.

In a December 2011 editorial in The Australian, two think-tankers ~ Mr Sam Bateman and Mr Anthony Bergin ~ raised concerns about growing Indian and Chinese presences in Antarctica, arguing that they could use these bases to monitor space-based infrastructure, communications and navigation systems. “China and India could use their Antarctic bases for these purposes. But how would we know,” they asked. Prof. Dodds said this should not really be an issue in Indo-Australian relations: “We have a treaty which stresses no militarisation. If Australia is concerned, they can carry out an inspection of those bases.” Dr Nayak said India has no ulterior motive for establishing the base. “We have only scientific interests,” he said.