Creating the role will help India pursue \u2018polar diplomacy\u2019 more effectively and work for full-member status of the Arctic Council<\/p>\n
India should consider appointing a \u201cpolar ambassador\u201d to pursue \u201cpolar diplomacy\u201d more effectively, a parliamentary panel has recommended.
\n\u201cCreating such a position will not only help India project the importance given to these regions in its foreign policy architecture but will also help put across its policy stance in relation to polar areas\/pursue polar diplomacy in a more effective manner,\u201d lawmakers on the committee said.\u00a0
\nA parliamentary panel in India is a small group of MPs that weighs in on bills and budgets, and the work of various ministries.\u00a0
\nIndia established a scientific presence in Antarctica in 1982 and has three active research stations there now. New Delhi came out with an Arctic Policy in 2022.
\nThe Arctic has become increasingly important for New Delhi amid the shipping disruptions in the Middle East caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. India is considering increasing the use of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), also called the Arctic route, Russia\u2019s minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Alexey Chekunkov, said last month.
\nRussia is investing heavily in developing the NSR, which is the shortest shipping route between East Asia and Europe. Indian shipyards are in talks to build four non-nuclear icebreaker ships for Russia.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Can India give the Global South a voice in the Arctic?<\/p>\n
The committee noted that all Arctic Council member states, and most non-Arctic observer states have polar or Arctic ambassadors, and dedicated polar or Arctic affairs departments.
\nIt recommended that the government enter into an agreement with Japan, Singapore and South Korea, which, along with India, are observers in the Arctic Council, to enhance Asia\u2019s collective voice in the forum. Having a polar ambassador will also help India work toward getting full-member status of the council, it said.
\nAn \u201cIndian narrative of the Arctic\u201d should be formulated to enhance New Delhi\u2019s leadership position in the polar areas, it said, adding that the government should strengthen its role as a representative of the Global South to advocate their collective interests in the polar regions.
\nThe panel led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also made a slew of other recommendations including that the government buy polar research vessels as the shortage of such ice-class vessels was impacting India\u2019s polar research and other activities. It also said the Indian government should explore fishing in polar regions while taking into consideration the fragile ecology there.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: India to see huge benefits from Arctic sea route \u2013 maritime expert (VIDEO)<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a country of more than 11,000 km long coastline and multiple islands, any sea level rise will have significant economic and strategic impact on India. Melting of sea ice surrounding Antarctica and Arctic will also have a significant impact on the Indian monsoon climate system,\u201d the panel said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Creating the role will help India pursue \u2018polar diplomacy\u2019 more effectively and work for full-member status of the Arctic Council India should consider appointing a \u201cpolar ambassador\u201d to pursue \u201cpolar…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37331,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t