UPSC Articles
Draft ‘Arctic’ Policy
Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III – Environment
In news
- India has unveiled a new draft ‘Arctic’ policy that, among other things, commits to expanding scientific research, sustainable tourism and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.
Key takeaways
- India expects the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research to lead scientific research and act as a nodal body to coordinate activities under it.
- Aim: (1) To put in place Arctic related programmes for mineral/oil and gas exploration in petroleum research institutes; (2) To encourage tourism and hospitality sectors in building specialised capacities and awareness to engage with Arctic enterprises.
- Arctic research will help India’s scientific community to study melting rates of the third pole — the Himalayan glaciers, which are endowed with the largest freshwater reserves in the world outside the geographic poles.
Do you know?
- India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic in 2007.
- Himadri is India’s first permanent Arctic research station located at Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway.
- It was set up during India’s second Arctic expedition in 2008.
