The Lok Sabha today passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, introduced by Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. The Bill aims to have India’s own national measures to protect the Antarctic environment as well as the dependent and associated ecosystem. Talking about the Bill, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said the main objective is to ensure demilitarization of the region along with ridding it of mining or illegal activities. It also aims to ensure that there is no nuclear test/explosion in the region.
The Bill is in line with India’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty, the Protocol on Environmental Protection (Madrid Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the bill provides a harmonious policy and regulatory framework for India’s activities in Antarctica through well-established legal mechanisms and will help in effective and optional operations of India’s Antarctic programme. It will also facilitate India’s interest and proactive involvement in managing growing Antarctic tourism and sustainable development of fisheries resources in Antarctic waters. It will also help increase India’s international visibility and credibility in polar governance, leading to international cooperation and collaboration in scientific and logistical fields.
Dr Jitendra Singh also explained that the continued and growing presence of Indian scientists in Antarctica at research stations with a concurrent commitment to Antarctic studies and the protection of the fragile Antarctic ecosystem warrants the adoption of domestic legislation on Antarctica in line with its obligations as a member of the Antarctic Treaty System. . The enforcement of such laws will vest jurisdiction in Indian courts to deal with any dispute or crimes committed in parts of Antarctica. Legislation of this kind will bind citizens to the policies of the Antarctic Treaty System. This will also be helpful in building credibility and empowering the country globally.
The bill also proposed to establish an Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which will be the apex decision-making body and facilitate the programs and activities authorized under the bill. Provides a stable, transparent and accountable process for sponsoring and overseeing Antarctic research and expeditions; ensure the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment; and ensure that Indian nationals involved in Antarctic programs and activities comply with relevant rules and internationally agreed standards. The Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the Chairman of the IAA and the IAA will have official members from the respective Indian Ministries and decisions will be taken on the basis of consensus.
India today has two operational research stations in Antarctica named Maitri (commissioned in 1989) and Bharati (commissioned in 2012). So far, India has successfully launched 40 annual scientific expeditions to Antarctica. With the Himadri station at Ny-Alesund in Svalbard, Arctic, India now belongs to an elite group of nations that have multiple research stations in the polar regions. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. 1 December 1959 and was originally signed by 12 countries. Since then, 42 other countries have acceded to the treaty. A total of fifty-four states are parties to the Treaty, twenty-nine countries have consultative party status with the right to vote in Antarctic consultative meetings, and twenty-five countries are non-consultative non-voting parties. India signed the Antarctic Treaty on 19 August 1983 and was granted consultative status on 12 September 1983.
The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was signed in Canberra on 20 May 1980, inter alia, for the protection and conservation of the Antarctic environment and in particular for the conservation and preservation of Antarctic marine living resources. India ratified the Convention on 17 June 1985 and is a member of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources under the Convention. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed in Madrid on 4 October 1991, inter alia, to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system and to develop a comprehensive regime for the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems. India signed the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty on 14 January 1998. Antarctica lies south of 60-S latitude, which is a nature reserve dedicated to peace and science and should not become the scene or subject of any international disputes.
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