The Lok Sabha on July 22 passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. There were no amendments to the text of the Bill that was passed after a voice vote. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in April 2022.
Key highlights
- Such a law was necessary under India’s obligations as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty of 1963, the Protocol on Environment Protection (Madrid Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty and to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources..
- Its overarching aim is to regulate visits and activities to Antarctica as well set ground rules for potential disputes that may arise among those present on the continent.
- The Bill also prescribes penal provisions for certain serious violations.
- Under its provisions, private tours and expeditions to Antarctica would be prohibited without a permit or the written authorisation by a member country.
- A member country is one of the 54 signatories of the Antarctic Treaty.
- The Bill also lays out a structure for government officials to inspect a vessel, and to conduct checks of research facilities.
- It also directs creating a fund called the Antarctic fund that will be used for protecting the Antarctic environment.
- The Bill extends the jurisdiction of Indian courts to Antarctica and lays out penal provision for crimes on the continent by Indian citizens, foreign citizens who are a part of Indian expeditions, or are in the precincts of Indian research stations.
- The Bill also proposed to set-up Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which shall be the apex decision making authority and shall facilitate programmes and activities permitted under the Bill. Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the Chairperson of the IAA and the IAA will have official members from the concerned India Ministries and decisions will be by consensus.
Antarctic Treaty
- The Antarctic Treaty was signed at Washington D.C. on the 1st December, 1959 and was initially signed by 12 countries.
- A total of 54 State Parties to the Treaty, 29 countries have the status of Consultative Party with a right to vote in the Antarctic Consultative Meetings and twenty-five countries are Non-Consultative Parties having no right to vote.
- India signed the Antarctic Treaty on the 19th August, 1983 and received the consultative status on the 12th September, 1983.
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
- The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was signed at Canberra on the 20th day of May, 1980, inter alia, for the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment and, in particular, for the preservation and conservation of marine living resources in Antarctica.
- India ratified the Convention on 17th June, 1985 and is a member of the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources under that Convention.
Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
- The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed at Madrid on 4th October, 1991, inter alia, to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system and for the development of 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 14th January, 1998.
- Antarctica lies south of 60 ñ South Latitude, which is a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science and should not become the scene or object of any international discord.
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