The document discusses India's growing interest and involvement in the Arctic region. It notes that the Arctic is undergoing a historic transformation due to climate change and increasing human activity seeking its natural resources. As sea ice declines, shipping lanes and resource extraction are expanding, with the Arctic possibly becoming ice-free in summers by the 2030s. The Arctic Council coordinates cooperation between the eight Arctic states and other observers like India, which was approved as an observer in 2013. India has conducted Arctic research since 2008 and believes its expertise in Antarctica can help secure a stable Arctic.

1. Globalization of the Arctic & India
Arctic – storehouse of untapped natural resources- one of the
last physically undisturbed marine spaces on earth
1
Venkata Krishnan
Visit: http://pdpu.ac.in/cce/
Courtesy:
https://pame.is/index.php/projects/arctic-marine-shipping
http://www.ncaor.gov.in/arctics
http://mea.gov.in/in-focus-
article.htm?21812/India+and+the+Arctic

2. Why in NEWS?
• Undergoing historic transformation
• Thinning, extent reduction in all seasons and substantial reductions in the
area of multi-year ice in the central Arctic Ocean
2
Venkata Krishnan Visit:
http://pdpu.ac.in/cce/

3. What Challenges to Arctic?/Why Changes will
be in Arctic?
• High commodity prices and a growing worldwide
demand for resources
• Increasing regional and coastal marine transport to
support the exploration and extraction of oil, gas and
hard minerals
• Increasing presence of the global marine tourism
industry
• Climate change - Arctic may experience nearly ice
free summers as early as 2030’s
3
Venkata Krishnan Visit:
http://pdpu.ac.in/cce/

4. What Future?
Arctic Council- unprecedented levels of cooperation among the eight Arctic
states -
The United States , Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland
and the Faroe Islands), Iceland, Finland,, Norway, Sweden and Russia.
Engagement with many non-Arctic stakeholders - Thirteen Non-arctic States
have been approved as Observers to the Arctic Council: including India (From
2013)
4
Venkata Krishnan Visit:
http://pdpu.ac.in/cce/

5. India in Arctic
India Signed Svalbard Treaty’ in 1920
Commenced Arctic research in 2008- The Indian station 'Himadri' -
Norwegian Arctic, (Ny-Ålesund Island) Svalbard;
Research in
Atmospheric- Tele-connections between the Arctic climate and the Indian
monsoon , effect of global warming in the northern polar region
Biological - Assessment of the flora and fauna of the Arctic
and also research in Marine, Earth sciences & Glaciological studies
India believes that, it has expertise in this area
from its association with the Antarctic Treaty
System can play a constructive role in securing
a stable Arctic.
1
Venkata Krishnan
Visit: http://pdpu.ac.in/cce/