Passage

The Arctic's vast reserves of fossil fuel, fish and minerals are now accessible for a longer period in a year. But unlike Antarctica, which is protected from exploitation by the Antarctic Treaty framed during the Cold War and is not subject to territorial claims by any country, there is no legal regime protecting the Arctic from industrialization, especially at a time when the world craves for more and more resources. The distinct possibility of ice-free summer has prompted countries with Arctic coastline to scramble for great chunks of the melting ocean.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2018

Which one of the following is the most importakt implication of the passage?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is incorrect. The passage does not suggest that India can have territorial claims in the Arctic. It focuses on the scramble among countries with Arctic coastlines, but does not mention specific territorial claims by India.

Option B is correct. The passage emphasizes that the melting of Arctic ice, leading to an ice-free summer, has prompted countries with Arctic coastlines to scramble for resources. This indicates a shift in the geopolitics of the region, with new territorial and resource-related tensions arising due to climate change.

Option C is incorrect. The passage does not claim that the Arctic region will solve the world’s resource crunch. It merely highlights that the resources are becoming more accessible, but does not suggest a definitive solution to the global resource shortage.

Option D is incorrect. The passage does not make a direct comparison of resources between the Arctic and Antarctica. It focuses on the accessibility of Arctic resources due to melting ice but does not suggest that the Arctic has more resources than Antarctica.

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