As India accelerates its transition towards green and clean energy, already achieving 50% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources five years ahead of its Paris Agreement target, the impact of this national agenda is beginning to resonate far beyond policy corridors.
The momentum is now shaping the imagination of India’s youth, and one remarkable symbol of this generational shift is Aayush Goyal, a 15-year-old Class 11 student from St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata.
Ayush has returned from the geographic North Pole aboard Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition, making him the only Indian student among 66 peers representing 21 countries. His journey embodies how government-led climate and energy policies are beginning to inspire young Indians to see themselves as stakeholders in the nation’s clean energy future.
From being inspired by Oppenheimer in Kolkata to outperforming nearly 4,000 students worldwide in Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge competition, Aayush has emerged as the only Indian student among 66 peers from 21 countries. His selection highlights the growing global presence of India’s youth in science and climate initiatives.
His presence in the Arctic, one of the world’s most unique regions, symbolically places India’s youth at the heart of global climate debates and future trade narratives surrounding the Northern Sea Route.
At 90° North, Aayush and his peers remotely operated Russian space rovers named Kurchatov and Korolev. The rovers were operated entirely via camera feeds, simulating actual planetary exploration conditions. The expedition coincides with the 80th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear industry, offering students exposure to discussions on nuclear energy, sustainability and innovation, areas where India has been steadily advancing under its clean energy and climate policies.
India-Russia Cooperation on the Northern Sea Route
In October 2024, India and Russia held the first working group on NSR cooperation. Discussions covered polar navigation training for Indian sailors, joint Arctic shipbuilding initiatives and cargo transit targets. A draft memorandum of understanding was prepared, underscoring India’s growing role in Arctic development.
For India, the NSR is becoming a strategic trade and energy artery. Record shipments of Russian energy resources are already reaching Indian ports, and the Chennai–Vladivostok Sea corridor is being aligned with Rosatom’s container transit project to create faster, more resilient routes for exporters. At a time of fragile global supply chains, the NSR offers India a way to diversify shipping lanes and strengthen its long-term trade resilience.
Amid these state-level shifts, Aayush represents a generation growing up alongside this transformation. He is part of a youth generation that is not only inheriting India’s clean energy transition but also stepping into global conversations on climate, trade and the Arctic’s future.
Aayush began what he calls a “dream come true” journey to the geographic North Pole, becoming the only Indian student among 66 peers from 21 countries.
The rigorous selection process saw Aayush outperform nearly 4,000 participants worldwide. Candidates were first tested through a quiz on Russian history and nuclear power, followed by a webinar-based evaluation, and finally a video presentation on how science could serve their countries. Reflecting on the challenge, Aayush said: “The competition was tough and it was rewarding. The challenges were many. I had to rethink and rescript the video at least 40 times before finalising the same.”
Citing his inspiration, he added: “The movie Oppenheimer inspired me to study deeply about nuclear science and hence I was able to score well when the quiz part came about.”
Just before setting sail from Murmansk on Rosatom’s nuclear icebreaker, Aayush said: “I already feel like I’m on top of the world.”
Now back from the expedition, he reflected: “I am grateful for the incredible experience and the knowledge it brought along, as well as the superb interaction with experts and fellow participants. The learnings were truly eye-opening and inspiring, and the environment on board was exceptional. I return with deeper insights, cherished memories, and a renewed sense of curiosity.”
Aayush aspires to become a science communicator, aiming to share complex scientific ideas in ways that inspire others, especially young Indians, to see themselves as stakeholders in the country’s clean energy and sustainability future. His achievement makes him only the second Indian student in six years to take part in Rosatom’s North Pole tour, placing Indian youth at the heart of global conversations on climate change, nuclear energy, and the future of Arctic trade routes like the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
The Icebreaker of Knowledge scientific and educational project is organized by the network of Nuclear Industry Information Centers (NIIC) with the support of Rosatom.
The momentum is now shaping the imagination of India’s youth, and one remarkable symbol of this generational shift is Aayush Goyal, a 15-year-old Class 11 student from St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata.
Ayush has returned from the geographic North Pole aboard Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition, making him the only Indian student among 66 peers representing 21 countries. His journey embodies how government-led climate and energy policies are beginning to inspire young Indians to see themselves as stakeholders in the nation’s clean energy future.
From being inspired by Oppenheimer in Kolkata to outperforming nearly 4,000 students worldwide in Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge competition, Aayush has emerged as the only Indian student among 66 peers from 21 countries. His selection highlights the growing global presence of India’s youth in science and climate initiatives.
His presence in the Arctic, one of the world’s most unique regions, symbolically places India’s youth at the heart of global climate debates and future trade narratives surrounding the Northern Sea Route.
At 90° North, Aayush and his peers remotely operated Russian space rovers named Kurchatov and Korolev. The rovers were operated entirely via camera feeds, simulating actual planetary exploration conditions. The expedition coincides with the 80th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear industry, offering students exposure to discussions on nuclear energy, sustainability and innovation, areas where India has been steadily advancing under its clean energy and climate policies.
India-Russia Cooperation on the Northern Sea Route
In October 2024, India and Russia held the first working group on NSR cooperation. Discussions covered polar navigation training for Indian sailors, joint Arctic shipbuilding initiatives and cargo transit targets. A draft memorandum of understanding was prepared, underscoring India’s growing role in Arctic development.
For India, the NSR is becoming a strategic trade and energy artery. Record shipments of Russian energy resources are already reaching Indian ports, and the Chennai–Vladivostok Sea corridor is being aligned with Rosatom’s container transit project to create faster, more resilient routes for exporters. At a time of fragile global supply chains, the NSR offers India a way to diversify shipping lanes and strengthen its long-term trade resilience.
Amid these state-level shifts, Aayush represents a generation growing up alongside this transformation. He is part of a youth generation that is not only inheriting India’s clean energy transition but also stepping into global conversations on climate, trade and the Arctic’s future.
Aayush began what he calls a “dream come true” journey to the geographic North Pole, becoming the only Indian student among 66 peers from 21 countries.
The rigorous selection process saw Aayush outperform nearly 4,000 participants worldwide. Candidates were first tested through a quiz on Russian history and nuclear power, followed by a webinar-based evaluation, and finally a video presentation on how science could serve their countries. Reflecting on the challenge, Aayush said: “The competition was tough and it was rewarding. The challenges were many. I had to rethink and rescript the video at least 40 times before finalising the same.”
Citing his inspiration, he added: “The movie Oppenheimer inspired me to study deeply about nuclear science and hence I was able to score well when the quiz part came about.”
Just before setting sail from Murmansk on Rosatom’s nuclear icebreaker, Aayush said: “I already feel like I’m on top of the world.”
Now back from the expedition, he reflected: “I am grateful for the incredible experience and the knowledge it brought along, as well as the superb interaction with experts and fellow participants. The learnings were truly eye-opening and inspiring, and the environment on board was exceptional. I return with deeper insights, cherished memories, and a renewed sense of curiosity.”
Aayush aspires to become a science communicator, aiming to share complex scientific ideas in ways that inspire others, especially young Indians, to see themselves as stakeholders in the country’s clean energy and sustainability future. His achievement makes him only the second Indian student in six years to take part in Rosatom’s North Pole tour, placing Indian youth at the heart of global conversations on climate change, nuclear energy, and the future of Arctic trade routes like the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
The Icebreaker of Knowledge scientific and educational project is organized by the network of Nuclear Industry Information Centers (NIIC) with the support of Rosatom.
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