Arctic Ice Melt to Spark Geopolitical Tensions, Impact Indian Monsoon: NCPOR Chief
(Source – Indian Express, Section – The Second page , Page – 02)
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Topic: GS3 – Environment |
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Context |
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Analysis of the news:
Emerging Geopolitical Importance of the Arctic
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With the Arctic Ocean predicted to become ice-free during summers in the coming decades, the region is poised to become a hotspot for international geopolitics.
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Dr. Thamban Meloth, Director of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), highlighted that melting sea ice will expose vast untapped mineral and fishery resources and open new maritime trade routes like the Northern Sea Route, attracting strategic interest from major global powers.
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About the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research |
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Impact on Global and Indian Climate Systems
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Meloth emphasized that polar regions, especially the Arctic and Antarctica, play a crucial role in global climate regulation.
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Melting Arctic sea ice can alter monsoon patterns in India, increasing the unpredictability and extremity of rainfall.
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Additionally, Antarctica holds about 70% of the world’s freshwater in frozen form, and large-scale melting could raise sea levels by up to 60 metres, with disproportionately higher impacts in tropical coastal regions like India.
India’s Strategic Interest and Scientific Presence
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The remarks come as India reflects on its pioneering polar research legacy. Officials at NCPOR marked 25 years of the institution by recalling India’s first Antarctic expedition in 1981 and the establishment of Dakshin Gangotri station in 1983.
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India’s early scientific presence has now matured into a strategic imperative, as access to polar regions becomes synonymous with geopolitical influence.
Call for Preparedness and Global Cooperation
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Meloth underscored the need for India to gear up to be part of international frameworks that determine access and resource sharing in the Arctic.
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As global competition intensifies over control of polar resources, India’s sustained investment in polar research and policy alignment will be critical to safeguard its climate interests and strategic ambitions.
Conclusion
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Melting polar ice has far-reaching global impacts, especially on climate, sea levels, and geopolitics, making India’s proactive polar engagement crucial for environmental security and strategic preparedness.
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Practice Question: Discuss the environmental and geopolitical implications of the melting polar ice caps, and examine India’s strategic and scientific engagement in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. (250 Words /15 marks) |
