Relevance: GS-3: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Key Phrases: Himadri, Svalbard Treaty , Arctic Council, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, intergovernmental forum, Polar Research Vessel , Spitsbergen Treaty.

Why in News?

• The Government released India's Arctic policy, which aims to strengthen national capabilities and competencies in science and exploration, climate and environmental protection, use of mineral wealth and maritime and economic cooperation with the Arctic region.

Background

• India’s association with Arctic is over 100 years old, having been one of the original High Contracting Parties to the Svalbard (formerly Spitsbergen) Treaty in February 1920.Even today, the Treaty provides the right of visa-free access and conduct of economic and commercial activities to the citizens of India in Svalbard.
• Indian research station ‘Himadri’ at Ny-Ålesund was dedicated to the nation in 2008, making India the only developing country apart from China to have an Arctic research base.

Key Features:

• The focus of the policy is to increase India’s participation in the Arctic Council and improve understanding of the complex governance structures in the region, which is quite relevant to geopolitics.
• India's Arctic policy will 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,".
• Implementing policy will involve multiple stakeholders, including academia, the research community, business and industry.
• Studying linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas, deepen cooperation between India and countries of the Arctic region under various Arctic forums, and drawing expertise from scientific and traditional knowledge are other key agenda of the policy.
• Besides enhancing understanding of the impact of climate change in the Arctic on India's climate, economic, and energy security; the policy will also help in better analysis, prediction, and coordinated policymaking on the implications of ice melting in the Arctic on India's economic, military and strategic interests related to global shipping routes, energy security, and exploitation of mineral wealth.
• The country's Arctic policy - titled 'India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ - lays down six pillars:
  1. Strengthening India's scientific research and cooperation,
  2. Climate and environmental protection,
  3. Economic and human development,
  4. Transportation and connectivity,
  5. Governance and international cooperation,
  6. National capacity building in the Arctic region.

Gaps in India’s Approach

1. Lack of an Articulated Policy:
   • Even though the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Government of India has listed India’s interests in the Arctic to be “scientific, environmental, commercial as well as strategic” till recently India was one among the four of the 13 Observer nations of the Arctic Council that did not have a nationally articulated Arctic Policy.
2. Scientific Orientation:
   • India needs to go beyond the purely scientific approach in the Arctic. In keeping with its growing stature and consequent say in world affairs, India ought to be better equipped to understand the dynamics of the Arctic geopolitics and governance.
3. Inadequate Funding:
   • Presently, India’s polar research, for Antarctic, Arctic, Southern Ocean and Himalayas, is budgeted under the umbrella Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) programme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
   • The total financial allocation (BE) under the PACER programme for the financial years 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 was Rs 365 crores.
   • Considering that India’s Antarctic Programme is about five times bigger than its Arctic programme, it is estimated that allocations for the Arctic are nearing Rs 10–15 crores per year.
4. Polar Research Vessel (PRV):
   • The lack of a dedicated PRV is considered to be a serious impediment in the growth of India’s polar activities. On 29 October 2014, India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, had approved the acquisition of a PRV at a cost of Rs 1,051.13 crore within 34 months.The vessel is yet to see the light of the day.

Does India’s Arctic Policy Address the Gaps?

1. Scientific Orientation: India’s Arctic Policy has gone beyond the hithertofore purely scientific approach. While the primary focus is still scientific, the six pillars address all the aspects of Arctic relevant to India, including climate change and environment, economic and human resources and geopolitical and strategic aspects.
   This would likely make India’s engagement with the Arctic more broad-based and enable a holistic approach.
2. Funding: The Policy declares that its implementation will be based on allocation of requisite resources.With the enhancement of a multidisciplinary approach to the Arctic, it is hoped that budgetary support to India’s scientific Arctic endeavours will be substantially augmented.
3. Polar Research Vessel: The intent articulated in the Arctic Policy of acquiring a dedicated ice-class Polar Research Vessel will hasten the process and provide impetus to India’s Arctic Programme.
4. Whole-of-Government Focus: The objectives outlined in India’s Arctic Policy are to be implemented through an Action Plan and a governance and review mechanism consisting of an inter-ministerial Empowered Arctic Policy Group (EAPG).  The Policy further states that implementation will be based on timelines and prioritisation of activities, involving all stakeholders including academia, research community, business and industry.
   This mechanism is likely to enable better analysis, prediction and coordinated approach in the Government of India, lend policy coherence to the region and will result in better realisation of India’s strategic, military and economic interests.
5. Awareness and Capacity: In India’s engagement with the Arctic, the Policy declares to develop a robust human, institutional and financial base in keeping with the philosophy of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
   The Policy also seeks to expand the capacity and awareness of Arctic-related scientific research in the country, and widen the pool of experts in sectors such as mineral, oil and gas exploration, blue-bio economy and tourism relevant to the Arctic.  It is hoped that India’s Arctic Policy will promote a larger pool of experts in the government as well as academia and lead to better awareness of the Arctic in India.

Conclusion

• India’s Arctic Policy is deftly dovetailed, enmeshed and in synergy with the broader policy framework of the Government of India.
• Most importantly, in keeping with India’s civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is but one family, India’s Arctic Policy is inclusive and participative wherein India offers its readiness to “play its part and contribute to the global good”.
• The release of India’s Arctic Policy, therefore, augurs well for India’s Arctic endeavours and the world at large.

Sources: Indian Express

Mains Questions:

Q. Briefly discuss India's Arctic policy. How is it going to strengthen national capabilities and competencies in science and exploration? (Words 250).