India's Stakes in the Coming Arctic Rush

India must stay invested in the polar region, which has rich energy sources and hosts two shipping routes that will open up in the coming years

- Arun Prakash

In March, Russian ambassador to India Denis Alipov addressed a conference on the somewhat arcane topic of 'Uniting North and South for Sustainable Development in the Arctic' in New Delhi. Jointly organised by Russia's Northern Forum and the Vivekananda International Foundation, the conference was attended by representatives of government agencies, as well as scientific and academic institutions. Also represented was the Republic of Yakutia, the largest Russian/Siberian province with an Arctic Sea coast.

Highlighting the favourable prospects for Indo-Russian cooperation in the development of the Arctic regions, including collaboration in energy exploration and exploiting the full potential of Arctic sea routes, the ambassador expressed concern over the "growing militarisation of the Arctic". According to him, collaboration with India in research on multiple polar scientific disciplines, including Arctic influences on monsoon dynamics, would be mutually beneficial.

While the polar regions may not figure prominently in the popular imagination, India's scientific community—with full political support—has been engaged in polar research since 1981.

Reflecting its growing scientific commitment to understanding atmospheric science, the climate crisis, glaciology, and polar biology, the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research has been implementing India's policy for polar studies.