Archive · 13 Aug 2026
UPSC practice probes India's Arctic policy and GeM procurement reforms
This article comes from a study guide that helps people in India prepare for a big government exam called UPSC.
It gives students ideas for writing exam answers on two topics.
The first topic is the Arctic, the very cold area at the top of the Earth.
India cares about the Arctic because melting ice there can change weather in India, including the rain that farmers need.
India studies the Arctic from a research station called Himadri in Svalbard, and it is an observer at a meeting group called the Arctic Council.
India wants a bigger role in that group, such as sending a Polar Ambassador.
The second topic is GeM, which is like an online shopping website for the government.
It lets government offices buy goods in a fair and open way, and it helps small businesses sell to the government.
But some buying still happens outside GeM, and small businesses sometimes find the platform hard to use.
The guide explains what is working well and what still needs to be fixed.
UPSC Essentials published Week 167 Mains answer-practice questions on India's Arctic engagement and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for GS Paper 2.
India has maintained a permanent Arctic research presence at Himadri in Svalbard since 2008 and is an Observer in the Arctic Council.
India has sought the appointment of a Polar Ambassador and a larger Arctic Council role, as strategic competition grows between Russia, the United States and China in the Arctic.
GeM, launched in 2016, digitises government procurement to boost transparency, competition, price discovery and market access for MSMEs and startups.
Remaining challenges include 38% of CPSE buying occurring outside GeM in FY23, registration hurdles for small firms, payment delays and gaps in digital capacity.
- Who
- India and aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam; the Arctic Council and Arctic states such as Russia, the United States and China are discussed in the content.
- What
- A UPSC Mains answer-practice module (Week 167, GS Paper 2) examining the significance of India's Arctic engagement and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for public procurement.
- When
- Published as Week 167 of the UPSC Essentials practice series, referencing the July 2026 magazine; GeM was launched in 2016 and India's Himadri research station has operated since 2008.
- Where
- India; the Arctic region, including India's research station Himadri in Svalbard.
- Why
- To help UPSC CSE aspirants practise structured Mains answers on foreign policy, e-governance, transparency, accountability and inclusive procurement.
- Publication
- The Indian Express – UPSC Essentials
- Practice series
- Week 167 (GS Paper 2)
- India's Arctic research station
- Himadri, Svalbard (permanent presence since 2008)
- India's Arctic Council status
- Observer; seeking a Polar Ambassador and a larger role
- GeM launch year
- 2016
- CPSE procurement outside GeM (FY23)
- 38%
- GeM procurement milestone (FY24)
- Crossed Rs 4 trillion