New Delhi: Indian government has released the country's policy for the Arctic region, aiming to enhance India's cooperation with the region. The Arctic Policy also targets combating climate change and protecting the environment there. The region, rich with resources, is rapidly changing as the temperature rises three times faster than the rest of the globe, The Indian Express reported.
The policy, titled "India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development" and unveiled by Earth Sciences minister Jitendra Singh, is built over six pillars such as science and research, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building.
The Arctic region in the North Pole is rich in minerals, oil resources and hosts many shipping routes.
An analysis of the policy published by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses suggested that the unfavourable effects of the climate changes are impacting the availability of natural resources here and disturbing the shipping routes.
The policy states that India's more than a hundred years of history with the region after signing the Svalbard treaty in Paris in February 1920. In 2007, India sent its first scientific expedition there and built an observatory as well as an atmospheric laboratory. Since 2013, India has been an Observer nation in the Arctic Council and has contributed to the council's six Working groups.
Under science and research, New Delhi plans to build research facilities in the Arctic region and advance existing facilities like the Himadri Arctic station in Svalbard. The policy also mentions deploying space technology to study the region.
India further seeks to study the linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas. Also, strengthening cooperation with India and the Arctic region nations through Arctic forums were mentioned by the policy.