Introduction
What is nuclear suppliers’ group?
The Nuclear Supplier Group is group
of nuclear suppliers that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of guidelines for
nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. The NSG first met in
November 1975 in London, and is thus popularly referred to as the “London Club”
Nations in the NSG
Non-Supplier Group consists of 48 members which include the five nuclear weapon states US, UK, France, China, and Russia. It is not a formal organization, and its guidelines are not binding decisions, including on membership, are made by consensus.
NSG
Goals:-
NSG
members pursue the aims of the NSG through adherence to NSG guidelines that
adopted by consensus, and through an exchange of information, notably on
developments of nuclear proliferation concern. The first set of
NSG guidelines governs the export of items that are especially designed or
prepared for nuclear use. These include:
n Nuclear material.
n Nuclear reactors and
equipment.
n Non-nuclear material for
reactors.
n Plant and equipment for
the reprocessing, enrichment and conversion of nuclear material and for fuel
fabrication and heavy water production.
n Technology associated with
each of the above item.
The
second set of NSG guidelines governs the export of nuclear- related
dual-use items and technologies (item that have both nuclear and
non-nuclear applications), which could make a significant contribution to an
unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle of nuclear explosive activity.
Why India is not a member of NSG?
NPT (Non-proliferation treaty) is an international treaty, which came into force in 1970.
The main objective was to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons
technology.
n Apart from India, Pakistan
and Israel have also not signed NPT.
n India refused to sign NPT
because NPT defines “nuclear weapons states” as those tested devices before
1967, which means India cannot ever be one.
n No fixed timelines have
been mentioned for disarmament.
n NPT is unfair treaty as
nuclear weapons states have no obligation to give them up while non-nuclear
states are not allowed to have them.
n India conducted its first
nuclear test-Pokhran -1 (Operation -Smiling Buddha), in 1974.
n The nuclear powers were
convinced that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty alone would not halt the
spread of nuclear weapons. Consequently, NSG was formed in 1974.
n The current guidelines of
NSG state that a non-NPT state cannot become a member of NSG which keeps India
out of the group.
China’s Opposition
While
a majority of the 48- member group
backed India’s membership, China along with New Zealand. Ireland, turkey, South
Africa and Austria were opposed to India’s admission.
China
insisted that India should sign NPT for NSG membership. It wants a non-
discriminatory criterion for the admission of countries who have not signed
NPT. It is an open secret that China’s resistance is to facilitate the entry of
Pakistan a close ally of China.
But
Pakistan’s credentials for NSG membership are highly flawed and inadequate. On
the other hand, over the years India has shown adherence to IAEA
safeguard and has taken voluntary measures to abide by NPT and NSG
guidelines while Pakistan has not taken any such initiatives.
Conclusion
India
finally managed to have some relief when the US relented and agreed to a civil
nuclear deal with India in 2008. This agreement has been done in view of the
requirement for the US under section 123 of its
Atomic Energy Act 1954, hence also known as 123 Agreement. Under this, India signed a
civil- military separation plan and India-IAEA safeguard agreement.
In return, US diplomacy helped us to get NSG waiver. In November 2010, America announced support for India’s
participation in the nuclear supplier group, The Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia group and the
Missile Technology Control Regime MTCR, “in a phased manner,” and to encourage the evolution of regime participation
criteria to that end, “consistent with maintaining the core principles of these
regimes.”
India
has taken a formal pledge stating that it would not share sensitive nuclear
technology or material with others and would uphold its voluntary moratorium on
testing nuclear weapon. This made India eligible to receive advanced nuclear
technologies that could be used to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium.
Thus, has helped India a lot.
Therefore,
India should take up this opportunity to aggressively pursue the development of
nuclear energy while providing the essential emphasis on safety and addressing
concerns of the public. It will also pave the way for clean energy initiatives
and continued focus to achieve our commitments to reduce the carbon footprint
pledge during the climate summit.
Note-
India is a member of Wassenaar Arrangement in 2017, and MTCR in 2016.
References
to read about Wassenaar Arrangement and MTCR-
