Context

China refused to dilute its stand on India’s entry into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), asserting that New Delhi must sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty to gain entry as there is no precedent for the inclusion of non-NPT countries.

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• China has sought to club India and Pakistan together, on the basis of both being non-signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• Chinese representatives want NSG countries to adopt a “criteria-based approach” which essentially means that either both India and Pakistan can get into the group or none.
• But most of the NSG countries, including the US, France and UK, make a clear distinction between India and Pakistan’s nuclear non-proliferation track record.

What is NSG and why it was created?

• Fallowing India’s 1974 nuclear test the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) emerged as a group of nuclear supplier countries 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.
• It is a 48 member grouping with the aim of ensuring non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology.
• The members of the NSG include the five nuclear weapon states, US, UK, France, China and Russia. The other 43 are signatories to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• Zangger Committee, (1971) recommended for its establishment.

Why India wants to be a member of NSG?

• Access to technology for a range of uses from medicine to building nuclear power plants for India from the NSG which is essentially a traders’ cartel.
• 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. This can only happen if India gains access to the NSG.
• India could sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and gain access to all this knowhow but that would mean giving up its entire nuclear arsenal. With access to latest technology, India can commercialize the production of nuclear power equipment. This, in turn will boost innovation and high tech manufacturing in India and can be leveraged for economic and strategic benefits.