NEW DELHI — In a bid to elevate India's geopolitical footprint and scientific influence in the Earth's extreme latitudes, a parliamentary panel has urged the Union government to consider appointing a dedicated "Polar Ambassador." Creating such a high-level diplomatic post, the committee argued, would allow India to project its strategic priorities more effectively and pursue robust "polar diplomacy" on the global stage.
The recommendation was detailed in a report titled "India's Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions," tabled in Parliament by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
Bridging the Diplomatic Gap in Polar Regions
Highlighting global precedents, the parliamentary panel pointed out that all permanent member states of the Arctic Council, alongside key non-Arctic observer nations—including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore—have already established dedicated Polar or Arctic Affairs desks headed by specialized Polar Ambassadors.
"Creating 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 and pursue polar diplomacy in a more effective manner," the committee noted in its report.
In response to the panel's observations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed India’s commitment to a rules-based, science-driven, and environmentally responsible framework in both the Arctic and Antarctic. The MEA stated that its polar engagements are guided by sustainability, energy security, sea-route governance, and strict adherence to international regimes governing deep-sea mining and fishing.
Climate Risks and Strategic Imperatives
The committee emphasized that the polar regions store nearly 90% of the world's ice sheet and 70% of its fresh water. While sovereign nations exercise territorial jurisdiction over most of the Arctic landmass, Antarctica remains a unique, uncolonized continent governed under the international Antarctic Treaty System.
The report warned that environmental shifts in these distant landscapes carry direct, cascading consequences for the Indian subcontinent:
Sea Level Rise: Antarctica holds an ice sheet up to 4.5 kilometers thick in places. Complete melting could trigger a global sea-level rise of roughly 60 meters. With over 11,000 kilometers of coastline and numerous island territories, India faces significant economic, environmental, and strategic vulnerability from rising seas.
Monsoon Impact: Accelerated melting of sea ice in both polar caps directly influences ocean circulation patterns, which can alter the stability and behavior of the Indian Monsoon climate system.
Maintaining a continuous, active presence in polar governance allows India to safeguard its interests in emerging international maritime routes and resource discussions while building technological capabilities in extreme environments.
Upgrading Polar Research Infrastructure
To sustain long-term research and strategic positioning, the parliamentary committee also urged the government to expedite the reconstruction of the 'Maitri' research station in Antarctica.
India currently operates two active Antarctic research bases: 'Maitri', established in 1989 at the Schirmacher Oasis, and the modern 'Bharati' station, commissioned in 2012 in Princess Elisabeth Land. The panel noted that building a modern successor to the aging Maitri facility will secure India's place among an elite group of nations driving polar science and environmental policy into the next decade.
