Север и рынок. 2023, № 2.

СЕВЕР И РЫНОК: формирование экономического порядка. 2023. № 2. С. 189-200. Sever i rynok: formirovanie ekonomicheskogo poryadka [The North and the Market: Forming the Economic Order], 2023, no. 2, pp. 189-200. НАУЧНЫЕ СООБЩЕНИЯ of the Arctic that focus on scientific research, shipping, and resource development15. As an area of the planet experiencing rapid environmental change, there is increasing justification for international collaboration, and countries outside of the Arctic are an integral part of that collaboration. Moreover, while non-Arctic States do not have the same level of influence in the region as the Arctic States do, they have a role in the Arctic's governance and its future prosperity. The Arctic States and their local and Indigenous communities have much to gain in actively harnessing the economic power and scientific capabilities of external partners. Multilateral cooperation is increasing and is supported by the Arctic's well-established governance structure. Non-Arctic States support their researchers through world class science institutions with a major Arctic focus. These include the Alfred Wegener Institute, the Korea Polar Research Institute, Japan's National Institute of Polar Research, and the British Antarctic Survey. India is an example of such a non-Arctic State member: Through contributing scientific knowledge and expertise, India believes it can leverage its strength in space technology and digital connectivity to help fill the gap of low digital connectivity in the Arctic region [6]. Figure 2 presents an assessment of the India involvement in the Arctic through to the present day in 2023. Our findings show that India has extremely good and productive relations with all Arctic countries and it is well positioned to seek a more inclusive role in the affairs of the Arctic Council. The Arctic is experiencing rapid environmental change, and India is particularly vulnerable to these changes. Firstly, through the how changing Arctic air patterns can make to the Himalayas and to the Indian monsoon. Secondly, through India's extensive area of more than 7,500 square kilometers of coastline that is vulnerable to becoming submerged through rising seas water levels. Indian scientists anticipate that by 2100, 36 million Indians will likely live in locations that will regularly flood should sea levels rise by 8.5 cm over the next 50 years. Furthermore, for the millions who live near the sea, will be long-term worries through progressive coastal erosion, land subsidence, and delta inundation16. In March 2022 India's Ministry of Earth Science unveiled its Arctic Policy, titled "India and the Arctic: Building a partnership for sustainable development" [6]. The policy articulates six Arctic pillars: (1) science and research, (2) climate and environmental protection, (3) economic and human development, (4) transportation and connectivity, (5) governance and international cooperation, (6) national capacity building in Arctic Region (Figure 2). Through these, India desires to create a permanent presence in the Arctic though establishing more research stations and satellite ground stations in the region. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is the "nodal institution" for India's Polar research programme and Arctic studies. While the Ministry of External Affairs looks after the engagements with the Arctic Council, other ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Space are all involved in polar research. India seeks to play a constructive role in the Arctic by leveraging its vast scientific pool and expertise in Himalayan and Polar research. The India's Arctic Policy notes "India would also like to contribute in ensuring that as the Arctic becomes more accessible, the harnessing of its resources is done sustainably and in consonance with best practices formulated by bodies such as the Arctic Council"17. Figure 2 presents an assessment of the role of India as a Non-Arctic State Observer of the AC as of 2023. The figure includes current, historical, strategic and headline summaries of India's involvement in the Artic: * Historic events are those activities that have occurred and have completed, these are shown as brown circles; * Current events are those that are shaping India's involvement in the Arctic today, these are shown cyan circles; * Strategic events are those that are central to India's long term security & the Artic, these are shown as lemon circles; * Headline events are those that are current and are of global interest, these are shown as magenta circles. Strategic events point to a near-term future or, to a longer term future. Outcomes can be considered or can be modelled but cannot be fully evaluated. Content here is a distillation of the authors analysis of India's Arctic Policy document [6]. Headline events point to a near-term future, outcomes can be considered with more certainly, but are themselves subject to outcomes in wider, higher, geopolitical events. For example, an early ending to the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict or an extended continuation of the Russian-Ukraine conflict. The history of India's presence in the Arctic and its Arctic policy objectives are shown in Figure 2, and Table 2. 15BRILL, 11 February 2021, Non-Arctic States' Role in the High North: Participating in Arctic Governance through cooperation, https://brill.com/ display/book/edcoll/9789004422438/BP000023.xml. 16Climate Fact Checks. 23 February 2023. India among nations facing highest threat from se-level rise. https://climatefactchecks.org/india-among-nations- facing-highest-threat-from-sea-level-rise-wmo/#:~:text=Indian%20coastlines %20covering%20more%20than,over%20the%20past%2050%20years. 17The Arctic Institute, 03.08.2021, The contours of India's Arctic Policy, https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/contours-indias-arctic-policy/. ©Туинова С. С., Бакстер К., 2023 194