Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

Why in news?

• India is looking forward to joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), overcoming the political impediments that are against global interest, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said recently.

About Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG):

• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment, and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
• It was formed with the objective of averting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and preventing acts of nuclear terrorism.

Members:

• NSG 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

India and NSG:

• India is not a member of NSG
• NPT (Nonproliferation Treaty), an international treaty, came into force in 1970. It’s main objective was to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
• Apart from India, Pakistan and Israel have also not signed NPT.
• India refused to sign NPT because:
  • The NPT defines “nuclear weapons states” as those that tested devices before 1967, which means India cannot ever be one.
  • No fixed timelines have been mentioned for disarmament.
  • NPT is unfair treaty as nuclear weapon states have no obligation to give them up while non-nuclear states are not allowed to have them.
• India conducted its first Nuclear test -Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha), in 1974.
• The nuclear powers were convinced that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) alone would not halt the spread of nuclear weapons. Consequently, NSG was formed in 1974.
• The current guidelines of NSG state that a non-NPT state cannot become a member of NSG which keeps India out of the group.

Why India need NSG membership?

• Membership to the NSG will essentially increase India’s access to state-of-the-art technology from the other members of the Group.
• Access to technology and being allowed to produce nuclear equipment will give a boost to the Make in India program

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group’:

1. It is signed under the aegis of United Nations

2. India is not a member of the Group

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer