Policy Update
Asmeet Kaur
Thousands of kilometres away from the Himalayas, the melting ice in the Arctic is slowly rewriting India’s future — impacting the very rhythm of our monsoon, the vitality of our glaciers, and the safety of our coastlines. What was previously envisioned as a far away frozen wasteland has now become an active forum for climate diplomacy, resource politics, or sustainable development.
In acknowledgement of this evolved presence, India finally introduced its first Arctic Policy in 2022 — “India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development” (Ministry of Earth Sciences, 2022). True to India’s recalibrated position, the policy represents an important shift in its posture — from one of an observing scientific nation to one as a strategic stakeholder. It indicates a recognition that changes occurring in the Arctic are no longer remote; rather they are translating through our atmosphere and oceans and into our livelihoods at home. While we may sit many thousands of kilometers away from the Arctic Circle on a map, we are being pulled into closer proximity both through climate science and global politics.
Background
India’s involvement in the Arctic may appear fairly recent, but its beginnings date back to more than a decade of discrete science-based engagement. In 2008, India officially established its first research station, named Himadri, at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, Norway, and became one of the select few Asian nations to hold a permanent presence in the Arctic region. More than a scientific base, it signaled India’s increasing interest in how far-flung polar changes may impact life in India.
Since the establishment of the Himadri station, Indian scientists have been engaged in various and meaningful science, seeking to better understand the fragile environments of the regions. The IndARC project, on a local scale, was another milestone: an underwater observatory developed to provide a long-term facility to study and monitor changing currents, water temperatures, and the relationships to the Indian monsoon.
In 2013, India also received Observer status in the Arctic Council, providing India with a more official voice in international polar affairs. Engagement on the Council allowed India to engage in bilateral science collaboration on black carbon, microplastics, and Arctic Biodiversity, and to add value and insights to global discussions of climate change.
Geopolitical and Strategic Dimensions
Today, the Arctic is much more than a frozen wilderness — it is now the new frontier of global power and cooperation. Beneath its melting ice lies immense potential oil and natural gas reserves, estimated at 13% and 30% respectively of the world’s undiscovered reserves (US Geological Survey, 2008). As access to these resources becomes feasible, the Arctic is rapidly turning into a geopolitical hotspot.
For India, which is highly dependent on imports for energy needs, the advent of new Arctic sea routes, like the Northern Sea Route (NSR), may radically transform global trade and connectivity by reducing distances between Asia and Europe by as much as 40%. However, India’s Arctic engagement is quite different from the extraction-driven ambitions of many other major states, such as China, who aim to extend their economic influence through the Polar Silk Road.
Rather, India’s Arctic Policy is framed around sustainable cooperation based on science, climatic accountability, and commitment to multilateralism. As an Observer member of the Arctic Council, India’s role conveys a valuable Global South perspective – stressing the point that, while the Arctic is being transformed, the Arctic will eventually affect us all who are outside of the Circle.
India is establishing itself as a responsible and economically valuable partner through growing collaborations with Nordic countries on renewable energy and green technologies. However, the new geopolitics related to the Russia-Ukraine war presents challenges for India as it tries to balance its relationships to both the Western and Russian camps while adhering to its political principle of strategic autonomy.
In a world of polarized politics that reflects rivalries across the globe, India’s calm, scientific, and sustainable approach may become one of its most valuable diplomatic assets.
Technology, Science, and the Global South Narrative
India’s technological approach and ethical framework make its Arctic engagement distinct — an engagement of innovation broadly defined and inclusiveness. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has emerged as a key player in monitoring climate systems in the Arctic through remote sensing-based mapping and monitoring. These technologies contribute to monitoring changes in ice cover, ocean temperatures, and atmospheric circulation producing global datasets for climate science.
Leveraging this foundation, India is undertaking some version of “Digital Arctic Diplomacy” — in an approach open data, artificial intelligence, and satellite analytics could be leveraged to improve transparency and collaboration in polar research. Borrowing from India’s own Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model, such an approach can democratize Arctic data providing a key participatory space for developing nations to participate in climate research that directly impacts them.
This scientific diplomacy and digital diplomacy sits within a larger framework of India’s participation as a voice of the Global South. The Arctic Council certainly continues to be a forum dominated by members of the Global North — but the climate disruptions that we are seeing — sea level rise, new weather systems, and biodiversity loss for example — are not equally experienced by all nations. India’s engagement represents not only scientific curiosity, but climate justice in practice.
Challenges and Constraints
Although India’s Arctic plans are ambitious, and future thinking, there are still a number of issues that inhibit India’s plans and potential. The more immediate challenge is infrastructure. India does not have an indigenous ice-class research vessel capable of service in extreme polar environments, which limits India’s ability to undertake independent, continuous research during the course of a year. Currently, Indian researchers rely upon partnerships with other countries to gain access to the field and the ability to conduct research.
Another barrier is funding and institutional capacity. Research in polar regions in India is often overshadowed by funding in other areas of science. Having an institution of empowerment, perhaps as an autonomous “Polar Research Authority”, would help facilitate coordination between the ministries, research institutes, and global partners.
The Arctic’s environmental fragility also involves an ethical responsibility. Balancing scientific exploration against ecological preservation will also continue to be a challenge, especially with new shipping and economic opportunities. India’s engagement needs to be aligned to sustainability-dangers of extraction of resources run opposite to its climate commitments.
Finally, there is limited awareness and expertise on strategic issues related to the Arctic within India. Much greater academic inclusion, public outreach, and training will be required in order to build up a new generation of polar researchers and policy experts.
In other words, while it has made remarkable progress so far, realizing its Arctic ambitions will require a blend of infrastructure investment, institutional reform, and diplomatic balance.
Way Forward and Conclusion
As the Arctic region rises as a focal point for climate change and global politics, India’s presence in the Arctic will have to be attuned to scientific rigor and strategic calculation. This would require furthering India’s polar research capacities, a polar research vessel, and increased partnership with Arctic States.
At the institutional level, a Polar Research and Strategy Centre would enhance coordination between polar research, diplomacy, and policy development and implementation. India can also help create dialogues with Arctic states in relation to the Arctic Council, BRICS, and G20 to position India as a bridge-builder for cooperation on inclusive, peaceful cooperation in the spirit of sustainable governance.
The Polar Data Hub is to be developed for connecting ISRO with global data networks by combining technology and data diplomacy and shall ensure better climate forecasting and resilience. Lastly, India’s Arctic vision and engagement must adapt itself to sustainability and ethics if it has to keep in step with “Mission LiFE” and climate goals across the globe.
The melting of Arctic ice and its climatic implications tell us something about our common vulnerabilities as humans, about one planet. For India, the value of engagement in the Arctic is not primarily about the extent of territorial reach alongside climate-related security-related missions but about assuming the role of a responsible global leader. The choices that India makes today are going to define its position vis-à-vis future global climate leadership.
References
- Ministry of Earth Sciences. (2022, March 17). India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development . Government of India. https://www.moes.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-03/compressed-SINGLE-PAGE-ENGLISH.pdf
- Press Information Bureau (PIB). (2022, March 17). Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh releases India’s Arctic policy titled “India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development”. Government of India. https://moes.gov.in/sites/default/files/PIB1806993_0.pdf
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). (n.d.). Himadri Station. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. https://ncpor.res.in/app/webroot/pages/view/340-himadri-station
- Press Information Bureau (PIB). (2025, February 13). Scientific studies carried out in the Arctic region. Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2102740
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (n.d.). Arctic publications and research outputs . Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. https://ncpor.res.in/arctics/arcticpublication
About the Author
Asmeet Kaur is a researcher at IMPRI and an undergraduate student at Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University, with a keen interest in Public policy and administration.
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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