#156: India x Northern Sea Route in Arctic
Imp notes for UPSC Mains
Murmansk is popularly the capital of Arctic for its relevance in being the starting point of the Northern Sea Route.
Why is Northern Sea Route in news?
Silently, India is increasing its footprint in the region with 35% of cargo traffic share at Murmansk port.
India in Arctic
Treaty of Svalbard 1920 is where Indian engagement started
Studies: atmospheric, biological, marine, hydrological, glaciological events
2008: Himadri research station
2013: India as observer state in Arctic Council
2014: Multi-sensor moored observatory
2016: Northernmost atmospheric lab
13 expeditions to Arctic till 2022
Significance of Arctic for India
Changes in Arctic Circle, Arctic Ocean and North Pole impacts Indian economy, security, water security and sustainability with direct impacts on monsoon
Anticipated to have:
Large hydrocarbon reserves
40% of world’s current oil reserves
Zinc, coal and silver reserves
Indian Arctic Policy (2022) is guided by UN mandated SDGs
Northern Sea Route (NSR)
Shortest shipping route for freight transportation connecting Asia-Pacific and Europe comprising of 4-5 seas: Barents, Kara, Laptev, E. Siberian, Chukchi
Has potential to prompt savings as high as 50% when compared to shipping via Suez & Panama. Also covers for risks like Suez Blockade.
Russia making NSR navigable
Sharing longest border with NSR, Russia has nuclear powered icebreaker fleet. Here are its efforts to making it navigable are as follows
Icebreaking assistance for safe navigation
1959: “Lenin” the first nuclear ice breaker in the world put to use, decommissioned in 1989
Currently, 7 nuclear powered ice breakers are at work along with a nuclear container ship
Motivation for India to participate in NSR development
Cargo Growth
73% cargo growth along NSR
Volume 2021-2022: 34.117 million tonnes
Increased Russian oil supplies stabilize energy resources for economy via NSR
Indian geography and sea trade proportion
NSR importance increases owing to India’s geographical position
Offers major trade opportunity considers major of our trade is via sea transportation
Geopolitical compulsions
Russia and China gaining collective influence over NSR
Indian aspirations to be on world table compel us to lead the game
Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC)
Sept 2019: Memorandum to examine the two links via NSR
10.5k km long route via Sea of Japan, South China Sea & Malacca
Brings down travel time to 12 days (as against 36 at present)
Way forward
Russian delegation promised key components availability round the year in a meeting with business community in New Delhi & Mumbai
Pace up CVMC to push to win over geopolitical circumstances
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