India re-elected as an observer to inter-governmental forum Arctic Council

On 7th May 2019, India has been re-elected as an observer to inter-governmental forum Arctic Council at the 11th Arctic Council ministerial meeting at Rovaniemi, Finland. Indian researchers have been studying whether there is a co-relation between Indian monsoon and the Arctic region. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, an Indian institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has set up a research station, ‘Himadri’, in Svalbard in Norway that works on the mass balance of glaciers, the effect of the warming on the marine system, the formation of clouds and precipitation, and the effect on biodiversity. The Arctic Council promotes cooperation, coordination and interaction among Arctic states on common issues, particularly on sustainable development and environmental protection. It addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. It consists of 8 members countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.