Sign In
Learn bits
World Affairs
Mahesh

18/03/22 09:07 AM IST

India’s Arctic Policy

In News 
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology released India's Arctic policy titled 'India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ today from the Ministry of Earth Sciences Headquarters in New Delhi.
Features of the policy 

  • India's Arctic policy titled 'India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ lays down six pillars: strengthening India's scientific research and cooperation, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building in the Arctic region.
  • India's Arctic policy would play an essential role in preparing the country for a future where humankind's biggest challenges, such as climate change, can be addressed through collective will and effort.
  • India's Arctic policy shall be implemented through an action plan, and an effective governance and review mechanism involving the inter‐ministerial Empowered Arctic Policy Group.
  •  India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to a century when ‘Svalbard Treaty’ was signed in February 1920 in Paris and, today India is undertaking several scientific studies and research in the Arctic region.
  • Indian researchers are monitoring arctic glaciers for their mass balance and comparing them with glaciers in the Himalayan region.
  • India has also been actively involved in studies related to the Arctic oceanography, atmosphere, pollution and microbiology.
  • Over twenty-five Institutes and Universities are currently involved in Arctic research in India.
  • In 2014 and 2016, India's first multi-sensor moored observatory in Kongsfjorden and the northernmost atmospheric laboratory in Gruvebadet, Ny Alesund, were launched in the Arctic region.
  • Until 2022, India has successfully conducted thirteen expeditions to the Arctic.

Role of India in Arctic Ocean 
  • India has a significant stake in the Arctic.
  • It is one of thirteen nations holding Observer status in the Arctic Council, a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.
  • India's engagement with the Arctic region has been consistent and multidimensional.
  • The country maintains that all human activity should be sustainable, responsible, transparent, and based on respect for international laws.

SOurce-PIB 

More Related Current Affairs View All

18 Aug

Impact of Ethanol Blending

'E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol and is being sold by Indian oil refiners, has been much in the news lately. ' India has achieved its target to blend 20% ethanol per litr

Read More

18 Aug

Uttar Pradesh govt want to take over the 150-year old Krishna shrine

'The Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly recently.' The Bill allows the formation of a board of government-appointed trustees, incl

Read More

18 Aug

Uttarakhand’s Bill against forced religious conversion

'The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved making the legal provisions against forced religious conversion more stringent in the state, including by raising the duration of jail sentences a

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps