India’s Failed NSG bid

• The plenary meeting of the 48-member NSG ended with no decision on India’s membership bid as divisions persisted over admitting non-NPT members with China leading the opposition to it.
• China’s stand that India’s membership application cannot be considered because it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was backed by nearly 10 other countries which effectively torpedoed India’s bid although it had the strong backing of the US, the UK, France and a majority of countries in the nuclear trading group.
• Switzerland, who had earlier extended its complete support, opposed India’s bid citing it being a non-NPT state.
• China’s continued obduracy raises serious questions in the Indian government about the value of organisations like BRICS, RIC or even BASIC, where India and China are believed to be working together. If China continues with its opposition, there could be consequences for bilateral relations with Beijing, because it would be a direct refusal to an Indian head of the government.

About NSG:

• The Nuclear Suppliers Group is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the nonproliferation 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”
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials.
• NSG was set up in 1974 as a reaction to India’s nuclear tests to stop what it called the misuse of nuclear material meant for peaceful purposes.
• Currently, it has 48 members.
• Permanent observer of NSG is European Union.

Why India wanted to become member of NSG:

• India has committed itself to increasing its share of clean energy, which includes renewable and non-fossil based energy, to 40% of its total energy generation. In order to achieve this, nuclear power generation is back in focus. While India has developed its own civil nuclear technology, it still requires advanced technologies that are more efficient and lower in cost. For that, it has to access technologies available with countries like, US, Canada, Japan, Russia and France.
• Without an NSG membership, accessing the same is a problem. The NSG waiver in 2008 enabled it to buy nuclear plants but there are several advanced technologies that find application in the field of medicine and medical care, transportation and space that are presently out of reach. Since India is not a signatory to NPT, NSG membership is a must.This is why the US has been lobbying actively for India’s membership as it presents a big opportunity for nuclear related business.
• ‘Make in India’ is a stated objective of our government and developing an efficient and secure nuclear-based manufacturing and research ecosystem will go a long way in establishing innovation in advanced technologies. NSG membership will allow for sharing and joint research in advanced technologies that can then be exported to other member states.
• India wants to become a player in this international arena where nuclear commerce norms are laid.
• If India becomes a member it will have better international market for export as well as for import of nuclear related materials.

By: Vishal