Nuclear Supplier Group

The Nuclear Suppliers Group consists of 30 nuclear suppliers which seeks to control exports of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology, both dual-use and specially designed and prepared.
Historical View
The NSG was founded in May 1974, in response to Nuclear test done by India in 1974 . Nuclear weapon states first met in November 1975. The test conducted by India demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear technology could be readily turned to weapons development.
Therefore nations already signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) saw the need to further limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology. It provides two set of guidelines related to Nuclear Exports and Nuclear related exports to put check on these concerns.
Members
In beginning, there was 7 members- Canada, West Germany, France, Japan, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. , now it has 48 members.
2015-16 NSG Chair is “ARGENTINA”
Former republics of USSR and European Commission has observer status.
London Supplier Group and “Trigger List”
In mid-1970s series of meetings was conducted at London, wherein list of guidelines for export of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology was prepared and then published by IAEA, list is called “Trigger or Zanggar list”. For this, it was also called “London Supplier Group”. Zanggar List consisted of items that could be exported to non-nuclear states if certain IAEA safeguards are agreed upon.
Objectives of NSG
NSG was formed with an objective is to ensure non proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Non proliferation means the prevention of an increase or spread of something, especially the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons.”
Proliferation has been opposed by many nations with and without nuclear weapons, as governments fear that more countries with nuclear weapons may increase the possibility of nuclear warfare .
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, N-technology and information to nations not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons(NPT)
Another motive of NSG was to put control on Dual-use nuclear technology which refers to the possibility of military use of civilian nuclear power technology.
Many technologies and materials associated with the creation of a nuclear power program have a dual-use capability, in that several stages of the nuclear fuel cycle allow diversion of nuclear materials for nuclear weapons. When this happens a nuclear power program can become a route leading to the atomic bomb . The crisis over Iran’s nuclear activities is a case in point.
Outcome of NSG
First set of guidelines are related to Nuclear Exports, it governs the export of items that are especially designed or prepared for nuclear use.
The second set of NSG Guidelines governs the export of nuclear-related dual-use items and technologies (items that have both nuclear and non-nuclear applications), which could make a significant contribution to an unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activity.
NSG Guidelines aim to ensure that nuclear trade for peaceful purposes does not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, while not hindering international trade and cooperation in the nuclear field.
The NSG Guidelines facilitate the development of peaceful nuclear trade which must be consistent with international nuclear nonproliferation norms.

NSG waiver to India
In 2008, the NSG participating governments agreed to grant India a "clean waiver" from its existing rules, which forbid nuclear trade with a country which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NSG's decision came when the Indo-US Bilateral Civil Nuclear Agreement was signed, the US facilitated lifting of the NSG trade restrictions against India.
The participating countries took note of India’s nuclear-related activities and appreciated its commitments to non-proliferation.

India’s request for NSG membership
India believes that so far NSG membership was denied to India so as to deny India access to sophisticated Nuclear technology.
India’s membership is one of the important issues facing NSG in the immediate future.
Reason for India’s demand are:

• Access to technology for a range of uses (Nuclear medicine ,nuclear power plants) though India has its own indigenously developed technology but to get its hands on state of the art technology that countries within the NSG possess, it has to become part of the group.
• With India committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring that 40% of its energy is sourced from renewable and clean sources, there is a pressing need to scale up nuclear power production. Even if India today can buy power plants from the global market thanks to the one time NSG waiver in 2008, there are still many types of technologies India can be denied as it is outside the NSG.
• India could sign the Nuclear non proliferation treaty and gain access to all this now but that would mean giving up its entire nuclear arsenal. Given that it is situated in an unstable and unpredictable neighbourhood India is unlikely to sign the NPT or accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that puts curbs on any further nuclear tests.
• Should India get access to advanced nuclear technologies, it can start building updated versions of its own fast breeder reactor and sell it to countries such as Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
• It means India can commercialize the production of nuclear power equipment. This, in turn will boost innovation and high tech manufacturing(Make in India) in India.
• The foremost threat to Indian security today comes not from its nuclear posture or externally, but from social deprivation and energy needs for its rapid economic growth.
• Nuclear energy is one of such source which India wants to build up for its energy security.

Non discriminatory nature of NSG
Sustainable civil nuclear energy is essential for future energy security, economic development and for clean environment. But it is important to regulate use of nuclear material and equipment as there is always a risk of diversion of nuclear material for building up nuclear arsenal.
NSG must work non discriminatory if it has to achieve its objective of non proliferation and checking dual use N-technology. There are following concerns –
Giving exceptional treatment to any country will not serve non-proliferation objective but it can affect strategic stability of region.
NSG should give importance to good nuclear record and adherence to guidelines of IAEA rather than “being signatory to NPT” while deciding NSG membership, as NPT itself is discriminatory.
There should be non-discriminatory, equitable and criteria-based appro¬a¬ch to decide whether any country be part of NSG or not, but criteria must be non discriminatory.

Conclusion
The evolving international order is going to be polycentric, western countries should take into account that world order is changing. India traditionally a prominent leader of south is on its way to play larger global role.
India as member of NSG can help to ensure that treaties and groups regulating Nuclear business are non discriminatory.

By: Vishal