GS Paper 1 10 marks · 150w 9 min Medium
Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region?
Subtopic: Geography · Arctic resources and India's interests
How to structure your answer
Introduction (Arctic holds ~13% undiscovered oil, ~30% gas, minerals, fisheries; ice-melt opens Northern Sea Route) → India's interests: energy/mineral security, climate research and monsoon link, trade route, geopolitics vs China → institutions: Himadri, IndARC, Arctic Council observer, Arctic Policy 2022 → Conclusion: sustainable, research-led engagement
Detailed model answer
184 words · target 150 words · 9 min
India's stake in the Arctic
The Arctic is estimated to hold about 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of its undiscovered natural gas, along with rare earths, other minerals and rich fisheries. Rapid ice-melt is also opening the Northern Sea Route, a shorter shipping link between Europe and Asia.
Why India is interested
- Energy and mineral security - access to hydrocarbons and critical minerals for a fast-growing economy seeking to diversify supply.
- Scientific research - Arctic warming influences the Indian monsoon and links to the Himalayan “Third Pole” cryosphere; India runs the Himadri station at Svalbard and the IndARC observatory, coordinated by NCPOR, Goa.
- Trade - the Northern Sea Route can sharply cut shipping time and cost between Europe and Asia.
- Geopolitics - balancing China's expanding Polar Silk Road presence; India has been an Observer at the Arctic Council since 2013.
These interests are framed by India's Arctic Policy (2022), which stresses sustainable, research-led engagement and international cooperation rather than pure resource extraction, so that scientific and strategic goals are pursued responsibly. India's engagement also builds partnerships with Arctic states and advances its broader polar and climate diplomacy.
What an examiner expects to see
- The Arctic holds an estimated 13% of undiscovered oil and 30% of undiscovered natural gas, plus rare earths, minerals and fisheries.
- Ice-melt is opening the Northern Sea Route, a shorter Europe-Asia shipping link.
- Energy and critical-mineral security drive India's interest in Arctic resources.
- Scientific stake: Arctic warming influences the Indian monsoon and links to the Himalayan 'Third Pole'; India runs the Himadri station and IndARC observatory.
- Geopolitics: India, an Arctic Council Observer since 2013, seeks to balance China's Polar Silk Road ambitions.
- India's Arctic Policy (2022) frames engagement around sustainable development and research rather than pure extraction.
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Himadri research station at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (since 2008)
- IndARC underwater observatory in Kongsfjorden
- Observer status at the Arctic Council since 2013
- India's Arctic Policy, 2022
Terminology to weave into the answer
Northern Sea Routeenergy securityArctic Councilmonsoon teleconnectionPolar Silk RoadHimadri station