Arctic Council:
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The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental organisation formally established in 1996 by The Ottawa Declaration.
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It aims to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction between the Arctic States.
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Members: a) Canada b) Denmark, c) Finland d) Iceland e) Norway f) Russia g) Sweden and h) United States.
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India: India has received the ‘Observer’ country status in the Arctic Council in 2013 and is one among the 13 countries across the world, including China, to have that position. The status was renewed in 2018.
India’s Engagement in the Arctic Region:
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India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to 1920 with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in Paris.
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Since July 2008, India has had a permanent research station in the Arctic called Himadri at NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway.
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India has also deployed a multi-sensor moored(anchored) observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014.
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The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa. The NCPOR falls under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
Previous Year Questions:
Q 1.) Consider the following countries: (2014)
1. Denmark
2. Japan
3. Russian Federation
4. United Kingdom
5. United States of America
Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 5
Ans: (d)
Q 2.) The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of (2015)
(a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
(b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
(c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
(d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region
Ans: (d)