Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region ?
Approach · directive: “why”
What it asks · Explain the economic, strategic and scientific reasons behind India's interest in the Arctic and its resources.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- Why: India's resource interests in the Arctic (energy, minerals, fisheries, shipping routes)
- Why: the interests beyond resources (climate science, diplomatic standing, strategic balance), with the cautions
Open with · Arctic warming is opening oil, gas, minerals, fisheries and sea routes; India, an Arctic Council observer since 2013, sees stakes for energy, trade and its monsoon.
Cover
- Energy security: USGS (2008) estimate of about 13 per cent of undiscovered oil and 30 per cent of undiscovered gas.
- Minerals and fisheries: rare earths and northward-moving fish stocks matter for industry and food security.
- Shipping: the Northern Sea Route could shorten Asia–Europe voyages for Indian trade.
- Climate science: Himadri station in Svalbard (2008) studies links with the monsoon and Himalayan glaciers.
- Standing and strategy: Svalbard Treaty (February 1920, Paris); one of 13 observer states alongside China; voice in shaping rules.
- Policy and cautions: Arctic Policy 2022 with six pillars; fragile ecology and UNCLOS norms call for responsible engagement.
Close with · India's Arctic Policy names its aim in its title, a partnership for sustainable development; science-led diplomacy, not a resource scramble, secures India's stake.
Add value (verified)
- India's Arctic Policy (March 2022), 'India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development', rests on six pillars.PIB, Ministry of Earth Sciences: India's Arctic Policy released (17 March 2022) ↗“lays down six pillars: strengthening India's scientific research and cooperation, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development”
- India's Arctic engagement dates back to the Svalbard Treaty signed in Paris in February 1920.PIB, Ministry of Earth Sciences: India's Arctic Policy released (17 March 2022) ↗“India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to a century when ‘Svalbard Treaty’ was signed in February 1920 in Paris”
- Thirteen nations, including China, are observers in the Arctic Council.PIB, Ministry of Earth Sciences: India's Arctic Policy released (17 March 2022) ↗“Thirteen (13) nations are observers in the Arctic Council which include France, Germany, Italian Republic, Japan, The Netherlands, People’s Republic of China”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 16 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 216words · Minimalist IAS
As Arctic sea ice retreats, its oil, gas, minerals, fisheries and sea lanes are opening. India, an Arctic Council observer since 2013, has stakes there in energy, trade and even its monsoon.
- Arctic warming
- sea ice retreats
- resources and sea routes open
- India's stakes in energy, trade and climate
Resource interests
- Energy security: the USGS (2008) estimated the Arctic may hold about 13 per cent of the world's undiscovered oil and 30 per cent of its undiscovered gas.
- Minerals and fisheries: rare earths and northward-moving fish stocks matter for industry and food.
- Shipping: the Northern Sea Route could shorten Asia–Europe voyages for Indian trade.
Beyond resources
- Climate science: India's Himadri station in Svalbard (since 2008) studies Arctic links with the monsoon and Himalayan glaciers.
- Standing: engagement dates to the Svalbard Treaty (Paris, February 1920); India is one of 13 Arctic Council observers.
- Strategic balance: with China, also an observer, and Russia active, presence guards against exclusion.
- Policy (since then): India's Arctic Policy (2022) rests on six pillars, from science and climate to economic development and connectivity.
Cautions
- Responsible engagement: fragile ecology and UNCLOS norms demand a partner's role, not a resource-seeker's.
India's Arctic Policy (2022) states its aim in its title, building a partnership for sustainable development; science-led diplomacy, not a resource scramble, secures India's stake.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 16 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
