Antarctica is governed by Antarctic Treaty which came into force on 23rd June 1961. The Treaty has so far been acceded to by 39 members states of which 26 countries including India have consultative status. All decisions relating to Antarctica have to be taken with the consent of all the Consultative Parties. The treaty maintains that Antarctica is open to all countries for scientific research and is to be free of nuclear and military activities. It lays down stringent standards for environmental preservation, waste management, protection and preservation of the Antarctic marine life. India participates in all Consultative Party meetings of the Antarctic Treaty and also in all other decision making conferences relating to Antarctic such as the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and meetings relating to Antarctic Mineral Resources Regime.
India launched her first expedition to the continent in the year 1981 and established her first permanently manned station on the ice shelf in 1984 and named it as Dakshin Gangotri. It was shifted in 1988 to the rocky area in the Schirmacher hill ranges about 80 kms away. The new station named Maitri is well furnished with leaving space, laboratories, medical facilities and other amenities.
The stamps on the FDC show The emperor penguin which is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguins and is endemic to Antarctica, and a map of the Antarctica.
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