UPSC Prelims 2014 Question:

Consider the following countries:

1. Denmark 
2. Japan 
3. Russian Federation 
4. United Kingdom 
5. United States of America
   
   

Which of the above are the members of the 'Arctic Council'?

Explanation:

• The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental body that promotes research and facilitates cooperation among Arctic countries on issues related to the environmental protection and sustainable development of the Arctic region.
  
  
• The council was created in Ottawa in 1996 by the Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council (the Ottawa Declaration).
  
  
• The Arctic Council was established on 19 September 1996 when the Governments of Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States signed the Ottawa Declaration. The Republic of India was admitted as an Observer to the Arctic Council in 2013. So, points 1, 3 and 5 are correct.
  
  
• The council also has a number of permanent participants drawn from groups that represent communities and peoples indigenous to the Arctic.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | International Relations