Q. Consider the following statements:
1.India is one of the member countries of the Arctic Council.
2.One of the reasons for India’s interest in the Arctic region is the opportunity to trade via the Northern Sea Route.
3.India aims to cooperate with Arctic countries in green energy and clean industries.
4.India’s engagement with the Arctic began with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in 1920.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is incorrect. India is not a member country of the Arctic Council. However, India has observer status in the Arctic Council since 2013, along with other countries like China, Japan, and South Korea.
Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct. The Northern Sea Route, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along Russia’s northern coast, offers significant potential as a shipping route. With climate change causing Arctic Sea ice to melt, this route may become more accessible, reducing the time and costs associated with shipping between Europe and Asia. This presents opportunities for countries like India to explore new trading possibilities. India’s engagement with the Arctic region extends beyond trade and economic interests. India has expressed its commitment to working with Arctic countries to address climate change, promote clean energy, and collaborate on sustainable development. India’s Arctic Policy also emphasizes scientific research, environmental protection, and international cooperation in the region. India’s formal engagement with the Arctic can be traced back to the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in 1920, which granted India access to the resources and scientific research opportunities in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Moreover, India launched its first Arctic research mission in 2007 and established an Arctic research base in 2008, becoming the only developing country besides China to do so.
Source: The Hindu
