The India–Russia Task Force will combine scientific research, operational cooperation, infrastructure planning and policy coordination to enable sustainable, responsible use of the Northern Sea Route. Our focus areas are: joint Arctic ecology and energy research; navigational safety and hydrography; seasonal and long-term logistics for NSR transits; indigenous and community engagement; and regulatory alignment to reduce operational, environmental and reputational risks.

What we will achieve

• Create an Indo-Russian research and operations partnership that produces shared environmental baselines, route-planning data and emergency response capacity.

• Pilot modular logistics and SAR (search & rescue) capabilities along priority NSR segments to enable reliable, lower-risk transits.

• Develop coordinated policies and financing instruments to improve commercial viability while protecting fragile Arctic ecosystems and communities.

Key challenges

1. Operational & maritime safety

• Sparse deep-water ports, bunkering and repair facilities along long NSR stretches.

• Variable, unpredictable ice conditions that require ice-class vessels and sometimes icebreaker escort.

• Gaps in high-resolution hydrography, up-to-date bathymetry and polar communications for reliable navigation and distress response.

2. Environmental & ecological risk

• Arctic ecosystems are highly sensitive; oil spills and pollutants persist and are harder to remediate in cold environments.

• Black carbon and ship emissions accelerate local ice melt; fuel choices introduce trade-offs between emissions and spill-response complexity.

• Cumulative impacts from shipping and energy development threaten biodiversity and local livelihoods.

3. Technical & logistical constraints

• Limited global capacity for ice-class commercial fleets and forbuilding/chartering icebreakers.

• Need for polar-specific vessel winterization, crew training and harmonized safety standards.

• High transit costs (escort fees, insurance, slower speeds) that can offset distance savings versus conventional routes.

4. Legal, regulatory & geopolitical complexity

• NSR administration is subject to Russian coastal-state regulation and permits; coordination must respect national frameworks and international maritime law.

• Evolving multilateral rules (IMO, Polar Code, fuel/emissions standards) require continual monitoring and policy alignment.

• Sanctions or export controls can affect equipment, finance and supply chains for Arctic projects