Draft ‘Arctic’ Policy

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.