India’s Arctic Policy, Objectives, Pillars, Research Infrastructure

India’s Arctic Policy is an important step in strengthening the country’s presence in the Arctic region. The policy was officially launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in March 2022 under the title “India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development.” It aims to expand India’s scientific, environmental, economic, and strategic engagement with the rapidly changing Arctic region. 

What is the Arctic Region?

The Arctic Region is the northernmost part of the Earth surrounding the North Pole and the Arctic Ocean. It includes territories of eight countries: Canada, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Norway, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Sweden, and Finland. The region is covered by vast ice sheets, glaciers, and frozen seas for much of the year. The Arctic plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate and weather patterns. It is also rich in natural resources such as oil, natural gas, minerals, and fisheries, making it strategically and economically important.

India’s Arctic Policy Objectives

India’s Arctic Policy aims to strengthen the country’s engagement with the Arctic region through scientific research, environmental protection, sustainable development, and international cooperation while safeguarding India’s long-term strategic and economic interests.

• Strengthen scientific research and exploration in the Arctic through regular expeditions, observations, and collaborative studies.
• Enhance understanding of the link between Arctic climate change and its impact on the Indian monsoon, weather patterns, and Himalayan glaciers.
• Promote environmental protection and support the conservation of Arctic ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
• Expand India’s role in Arctic governance and contribute to international discussions on sustainable development and climate action.
• Encourage international scientific cooperation with Arctic countries, research institutions, and global organizations.
• Explore opportunities in energy resources, critical minerals, fisheries, and other sectors while ensuring sustainable and responsible utilization.
• Study emerging Arctic shipping routes and assess their potential benefits for India’s trade, connectivity, and maritime interests.
• Strengthen national capacity building by developing skilled researchers, advanced technologies, and polar research infrastructure.

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Six Pillars of India’s Arctic Policy

India’s Arctic Policy is based on six pillars that aim to strengthen the country’s scientific research, environmental protection, economic engagement, international cooperation, and strategic presence in the Arctic region.

• Science and Research: Strengthening Arctic scientific expeditions, expanding polar research programs, promoting climate studies, enhancing oceanographic and atmospheric observations, and encouraging collaboration with international research institutions.
• Climate and Environmental Protection: Monitoring the impact of climate change, studying Arctic warming, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, supporting sustainable development, and improving understanding of the Arctic’s influence on the Indian monsoon and global climate.
• Economic and Human Development: Exploring opportunities in energy resources, rare earth minerals, fisheries, sustainable tourism, and scientific innovation, while ensuring the welfare of indigenous Arctic communities and promoting responsible economic activities.
• Transportation and Connectivity: Assessing the potential of Arctic shipping routes, including the Northern Sea Route (NSR), improving maritime connectivity, reducing transportation costs, and creating new opportunities for international trade and logistics.
• Governance and International Cooperation: Enhancing participation in Arctic governance frameworks, strengthening partnerships with Arctic nations, supporting international law, promoting peaceful cooperation, and contributing to global efforts for sustainable Arctic development.
• National Capacity Building: Developing polar research infrastructure, training scientists and researchers, encouraging academic studies, advancing Arctic technologies, and improving coordination among government agencies involved in Arctic affairs.

India’s Connection with the Arctic

India’s connection with the Arctic is based on scientific research, climate studies, international cooperation, and its growing strategic and economic interests in the rapidly changing polar region.

• Early Association through the Svalbard Treaty (1920): India’s engagement with the Arctic began when it became a signatory to the Svalbard Treaty, which grants participating countries rights to conduct scientific and economic activities in the Svalbard archipelago.
• First Indian Arctic Expedition (2007): India launched its first Arctic scientific expedition in 2007 to study climate change, atmospheric processes, marine ecosystems, and the impact of Arctic warming on the Indian monsoon.
• Himadri Research Station (2008): India established Himadri, its first permanent Arctic research station, at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, Norway. The station conducts research on climate change, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, and Arctic biodiversity.
• IndArc Underwater Observatory (2014): India deployed IndArc, the country’s first multi-sensor underwater moored observatory in the Kongsfjorden fjord of the Arctic Ocean. It continuously monitors oceanographic parameters, sea-ice conditions, and climate-related changes.
• Arctic Mooring System: India has installed advanced Arctic mooring systems to collect long-term data on ocean currents, temperature variations, salinity levels, and marine ecosystems, helping scientists understand the Arctic’s influence on global climate.
• Observer Status in the Arctic Council (2013): India became an Observer in the Arctic Council, the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and sustainable development among Arctic nations.
• Research on Arctic-Monsoon Linkages: Indian scientists actively study the relationship between Arctic warming and changes in the Indian monsoon, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and Himalayan glacier melting.
• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR): Located in Goa, NCPOR serves as the nodal agency coordinating India’s Arctic, Antarctic, and Southern Ocean research programs and scientific expeditions.
• India’s Arctic Policy (2022): India launched its Arctic Policy titled “India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development” to strengthen scientific research, environmental protection, economic cooperation, and international partnerships in the region.
• International Scientific Collaborations: India collaborates with Arctic countries such as Norway, Russia, Iceland, Finland, and Canada through joint research projects, data-sharing initiatives, and polar science programs.
• Focus on Climate Change Studies: Indian researchers use Arctic observations to improve climate models, weather forecasting, disaster management, and understanding of global warming impacts on South Asia.
• Strategic and Economic Interests: India is increasingly interested in Arctic shipping routes, energy resources, rare earth minerals, and emerging trade opportunities while supporting sustainable and peaceful development of the region.

India’s Research Infrastructure in the Arctic

India has developed a strong Arctic research infrastructure to support scientific studies on climate change, oceanography, atmospheric sciences, glaciology, and marine ecosystems. These facilities enable Indian scientists to monitor environmental changes in the Arctic and understand their impact on India and the world.

• Himadri Research Station (2008): India’s first permanent Arctic research station, located at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway. It serves as the center for studies related to climate change, glaciers, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, microbiology, and Arctic biodiversity.
• IndArc Observatory (2014): India’s first multi-sensor underwater moored observatory, deployed in Kongsfjorden Fjord, Arctic Ocean. It continuously collects data on sea temperature, ocean currents, salinity, marine ecosystems, and sea-ice dynamics.
• Arctic Mooring Systems: India has installed advanced ocean mooring systems in the Arctic to gather long-term data on ocean circulation, water temperature, salinity levels, and the effects of climate change on marine environments.
• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR): Located in Goa, NCPOR is the nodal agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences responsible for coordinating India’s Arctic expeditions, polar research programs, scientific collaborations, and data analysis.
• International Research Collaboration Network: India collaborates with research institutions and universities from Norway, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Canada, and other Arctic countries to strengthen scientific knowledge and data-sharing initiatives.