Arctic region, the huge area around North Pole spreading over one –sixth of the earth’s landmass, has assumed special importance in the geopolitics of the present decade in view of its enormous potential of hydrocarbon reserves and the maritime resources. For the past three years, the leading powers including the United States, Russia and China have been silently fighting for getting inroads in the resources rich region. India, as a country with observer status since May 2013, has also been active in carrying out scientific expeditions, but the agreement signed on June 1 at Sr. Petersburg summit between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a major step as an active participant in the exploration of resources in the region.

For India, the Arctic Ocean offers a huge opportunity for carrying on both scientific and oil exploration activities as a part of ensuring energy security of the nation. This ecologically sensitive region is going to have huge impact on India reorienting its relations with the other Arctic Council members. Apart from oil and gas reserves in the region, the unexploited marine living resources offer India a big opportunity for studies since India has got high expertise in this area. Similarly, the shorter shipping routes connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean is a also a big attraction for India to be proactive in the zone.

Recent studies indicate that Arctic Ocean may experience nearly ice free summers around 2030 thereby opening up enormous opportunities as well as challenges not only for the littoral states but also for the other countries including India as well. The Arctic Council is a high level inter governmental body set up only in 1996 by the Ottawa declaration to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic states together with the indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants. The Council has eight circumpolar countries-Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, USA and Russia. With six new countries including India inducted in 2013, the council has now twelve observers.

Significantly, India’s engagement with Arctic began in 1920 when it signed the Treaty in Paris. For many decades, there was not much activity but in last decade, India started taking big interest in the scientific programmes and in 2007 India initiated the Arctic Research Programme with thrust on climate change. India also launched the first scientific expedition to the Arctic in 2007 and opened a research base named Himadri at the International Arctic Research base in July 2008 for carrying out studies like glaciology, atmospheric sciences and biological sciences. India was elected to the council of the International Arctic Science Committee in 2012.

Any expansion in the activities of India in the Arctic Ocean region needs the collaboration of a member of the Arctic Council. Indian Prime Minister through his talks with President Putin at St. Petersbug summit in June, has chosen Russia as a collaborator since India will be able to carry out exploration of hydrocarbon reserves in the Russian part of the Arctic shelf. This is a major breakthrough for the Indian oil industry as immense opportunities will open up and this is a preparation for taking up the challenge after 2030 when there will be a rush of investors for the oil reserves in the Arctic in view of the costs coming down as a result of change in climate.

Both India and Russia will develop joint strategies to harness the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in in the field of deep sea exploration, polymetallic nodules, and other marine resources utilizing strengths in maritime research. Indian scientists who are associated with the Arctic research, are also worried that any imminent change in the climate of Arctic may impact monsoons in India adversely affecting the agrarian economy. This may also lead to thermal expansion allowing melted glacial waters to flow into tributaries of Himalayan rivers. There is a possibility of submergence of Indian coastal areas as a result. Indian scientists are therefore considering the possibility of linking Arctic, Himalayas and Antarctica to be taken up at the international dialogue on climate. (IPA Service)