- ISEA is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program conducted every year by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It was started in 1981.
- It has gained global acceptance after India signed Antarctic Treaty.
- Subsequently, India had constructed Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983.
- It was superseded by the Maitri base from 1990.
- India’s newest base in Antarctica, Bharati, was commissioned in 2015.