India’s Participation at the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) 2025
Context: India’s Ministry of Ayush delegation participated in the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly held in Reykjavík, Iceland. Prof. R.N. Acharya presented India’s Arctic Policy and highlighted the relevance of Ayush (traditional Indian medicine) in Arctic and global wellness contexts.
About the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA)
• Largest global gathering on Arctic affairs.
• Focuses on the future of the Arctic and the planet. • Held annually in October in Reykjavík, Iceland.
• Participants: Governments, Indigenous leaders, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
• Aims to foster dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge exchange on Arctic issues.
Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) 2025 Highlights
• Organizer: Arctic Circle. • Dates: October 16–18, 2025. • Venue: Reykjavík, Iceland. • Aim: To serve as the world’s largest open forum for global dialogue on Arctic affairs, climate, and sustainable development. • Theme: Continued focus on “open tent” dialogue — sharing knowledge and shaping cooperation on climate change, development, and security in the High North. About the Arctic Circle • Geographical Position: Latitude 66°33′ N, encircling the Arctic Ocean.
• Arctic States: 1. Canada 2. United States (Alaska) 3. Russia 4. Norway 5. Sweden 6. Finland 7. Iceland 8. Denmark (via Greenland)
• Governance: • Coordinated mainly by the Arctic Council, which includes Indigenous Permanent Participants. • Focuses on environmental protection, sustainable development, and cooperation (excluding military issues).
Significance of the Arctic
• Rapid Warming (Arctic Amplification): The region is warming four times faster than the global average.
• Consequences: • Sea-ice loss, permafrost thaw, biodiversity changes, and risks to local communities.
• Global Interests: • Emerging shipping routes, critical minerals, fisheries, and geopolitical competition.
• Need: Enhanced science, diplomacy, and regulatory cooperation. India and the Arctic
• India’s Arctic Policy (2022): “For a Sustainable Planet” — focuses on science, climate resilience, and international cooperation.
• Relevance of Ayush: Promotes traditional wellness systems in extreme climatic conditions, fostering global health diplomacy.