{"id":41813,"date":"2025-04-23T19:21:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T13:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=41813"},"modified":"2025-04-24T10:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T04:55:08","slug":"exploring-india-arctic-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/23-04-2025\/exploring-india-arctic-potential","title":{"rendered":"Exploring India\u2019s Arctic Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations; GS3\/Resource Geography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As global trade undergoes a fundamental shift, nations are adapting to new strategies that account for geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and climate change.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Arctic region is rapidly transforming due to climate change and geopolitical shifts, and now emerging as a critical trade and energy hub.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Arctic Region<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is one of the most fragile and crucial ecosystems on Earth, covering the northernmost parts of the planet.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It includes the <strong>Arctic Ocean, parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and the United States (Alaska).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Arctic is <strong>warming at nearly four times the global average<\/strong>, causing environmental and economic shifts that influence policies and territorial claims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to NASA, Arctic ice in the Arctic region is<strong> shrinking 12.2% per decade.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current Framework for Arctic Governance <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arctic Council:<\/strong> It was established in 1996 through the <strong>Ottawa Declaration.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is composed of <strong>eight nations (U.S., Canada, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland)<\/strong>, and aims to promote environmental protection and scientific cooperation<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):<\/strong> It governs maritime boundaries and resource rights in the Arctic Ocean.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It provides a legal framework for resolving disputes but does not address broader issues like climate change or indigenous rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Svalbard Treaty (1920): <\/strong>It grants <strong>Norway sovereignty<\/strong> over the Svalbard archipelago while allowing other signatories to access its resources.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is one of the few binding agreements related to the Arctic but is limited in scope.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Arctic Region<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Natural Resources:<\/strong> According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the region holds about <strong>13% of the world\u2019s undiscovered oil and 30% of its natural gas.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With ice caps retreating, these resources are becoming increasingly accessible, fueling competition among nations seeking to exploit them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New Navigational Routes:<\/strong> These include routes such as the <strong>Northern Sea Route (NSR)<\/strong> and the <strong>Northwest Passage<\/strong> are becoming viable <strong>alternatives to the Suez and Panama Canals.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The exponential rise in cargo shipments along the NSR, from 41,000 tonnes in 2010 to 37.9 million tonnes in 2024, underscores its growing significance as a global trade route.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strategic Importance of the Arctic for India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Northern Sea Route (NSR): <\/strong>India\u2019s interest in the NSR aligns with its long-term goals of enhancing maritime trade and reducing freight costs.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The NSR, <strong>linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,<\/strong> is the <strong>shortest trade route<\/strong> between <strong>Europe and Asia.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Energy and Resources: <\/strong>The Arctic holds vast reserves of oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, which could support India\u2019s energy security and technological advancements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Leverage: India <\/strong>has been an <strong>Observer in the Arctic Council <\/strong>since 2013, and can advocate for equitable resource sharing and sustainable development in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Engagement with the Arctic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early Involvement:<\/strong> India signed the <strong>Svalbard Treaty<\/strong>, marking its initial engagement with the Arctic.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is one of the few developing nations with an <strong>Arctic research base\u2014Himadri,<\/strong> <strong>established in 2008<\/strong> in Svalbard, Norway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian researchers have studied the impact of Arctic ice loss on monsoon patterns and agricultural outputs, highlighting the interconnectedness of global ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scientific Contributions:<\/strong> India through the <strong>National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)<\/strong> conducts scientific studies on climate patterns, marine biodiversity, and glacial dynamics.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s Arctic Policy (2022)<\/strong>, titled \u2018India and the Arctic\u2019 by the <strong>Ministry of Earth Science<\/strong> for building a partnership for sustainable development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Arctic Circle India Forum, 2025 (Expected in May 2025): <\/strong>It offers a unique opportunity to align India&#8217;s Arctic policy with regional and global interests.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The discussion could pave the way for <strong>appointing a \u2018Polar Ambassador\u2019, <\/strong>strengthening India\u2019s Arctic representation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges &amp; Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Environmental Concerns:<\/strong> The Arctic is one of the most fragile ecosystems, and increased activity could exacerbate climate change impacts.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nature Climate Change<\/strong> revealed that global temperatures <strong>breached the 1.5\u00b0C threshold<\/strong> above pre-industrial levels in 2024 that signals a potential long-term deviation from the <strong>Paris Agreement&#8217;s goals.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India must balance its commercial interests with its commitment to global sustainability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure Development:<\/strong> Navigating Arctic waters requires specialized ice-breaking fleets and polar-ready ships.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Union Budget<\/strong> <strong>2025-26 <\/strong>allocated $3 billion for maritime development, including investments in Arctic-specific shipbuilding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Territorial Disputes: <\/strong>Under UNCLOS, nations can extend their claims to the seabed <strong>beyond the 200-nautical-mile EEZ<\/strong> if they can prove that the area is a natural prolongation of their continental shelf.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Russia, Canada, and Denmark (via Greenland) have all submitted claims to extend their seabed sovereignty under the <strong>UNCLOS.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>US, which has not ratified UNCLOS,<\/strong> faces limitations in asserting its claims. Meanwhile, Russia has used legal maneuvers and strategic military positioning to reinforce its claims, challenging Western interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s Strategic Dilemma<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Partnership with Russia:<\/strong> Russia, with its extensive Arctic expertise, is a natural partner for India in exploring the NSR.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Initiatives like the <strong>Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor<\/strong> could serve as a gateway to NSR ports such as Pevek, Tiksi, and Sabetta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Implications:<\/strong> Aligning with Russia may inadvertently support<strong> China&#8217;s Polar Silk Road,<\/strong> a northern extension of its <strong>Belt and Road Initiative.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It could enhance China&#8217;s control over Arctic routes, bypassing chokepoints like the Malacca Strait.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Balancing Western Interests:<\/strong> Partnering with the U.S. and Western allies could alienate Russia, jeopardizing India&#8217;s stake in Arctic resources.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A balanced approach involving Japan and South Korea could counter growing Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Streamlining Arctic Policy:<\/strong> India\u2019s Arctic Policy (2022) should focus on actionable goals, including capacity building and technological innovation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promoting Sustainable Practices:<\/strong> India must advocate for eco-friendly resource extraction and climate-resilient infrastructure in the Arctic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthening Research and Development:<\/strong> Expanding Arctic research programs can provide valuable insights into climate change and its global implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Multilateral Collaboration:<\/strong> India should engage in multilateral dialogues to strengthen partnerships with Arctic states and other Observer nations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Collaborating with countries like Russia, Japan, and South Korea can enhance India\u2019s strategic presence in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s potential in the Arctic region is vast, encompassing trade, energy, and scientific research.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By adopting a balanced approach that prioritizes sustainability and multilateral cooperation, India can position itself as a key player in shaping the future of the Arctic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> How can India strategically balance its economic ambitions and environmental responsibilities while exploring its potential in the Arctic region, and what role could multilateral collaborations play in shaping India&#8217;s Arctic strategy?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/exploring-indias-potential-in-the-arctic-region\/article69477957.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-23-April-2025.PDF.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As global trade undergoes a fundamental shift, nations are adapting to new strategies that account for geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and climate change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41813"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41861,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41813\/revisions\/41861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}