It matters little even if India doesn't become a member of Nuclear Suppliers group.
What is Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?
The NSG first met in November 1975 in London. Thus it is popularly referred as the “London Club”.
It was created in response to India's first nuclear test in 1974, codenamed ‘Smiling Buddha’.
The NSG is a 48-member group. The European Commission and the Chair of the Zangger Committee participate as observers.
It seeks to regulates global nuclear commerce.
The NSG Guidelines were published in 1978 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment, and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
The aim is to ensure that nuclear transfers for peaceful purposes would not be diverted to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Another set of guidelines was approved by the NSG in 1992 to govern the transfer of “dual-use” items.
A supplier should authorise a transfer only when satisfied that the transfer would not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Also stringent conditions exist for importing countries to resupply materials to a third country.
Who can become a member of NSG?
Signatories to the NPT can join the NSG.
NSG works on the basis of consensus, i.e any decision needs to be ratified by all member countries.
Where does the case for India's membership stand?
India has been pursuing member countries of NSG to become a member.
India's entry is being opposed by China, New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey and Austria stating India
has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
refuses to open its military nuclear sites to the IAEA
has not rule out the possibility another nuclear test device in future.
Following the India-US civil nuclear deal of 2006, the US lobbied hard for an exception for India, citing the country's impeccable record.
Russia, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey and several other countries have subsequently supported India's membership bid.
In 2008 the USA pressed the NSG to drop its long time ban on exporting civilian nuclear technology to India.
So, NSG worked out “India-specific” conditions under which India would be obliged to open only its civilian nuclear reactors to the IAEA.
NSG members agreed to grant India a "clean waiver" from its existing rules, in exchange for a commitment to "no nuclear trade with non-NPT countries.
Does NSG membership really matters for India?
NSG membership is symbolic. India wants a place at the high table, but that’s it. In practical terms, it means nothing.
One-time waiver was facilitated by the US
However not even a megawatt of nuclear capacity has been added in India by USA.
Inida built only two units of the Kudankulam plant with foreign help and fuel, and they have nothing to do with the one-time waiver.
Talks with other foreign nations happens once in a while but it quickly passes away.
There seems no hope for the foreign plants
Apart from issues such as environment and liability such plants have simply priced themselves out of the market.
Only the 10 pressurised heavy water plants (700 MW each) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India have reasonable likelihood of coming up
An NSG membership would do nothing for India . So, while bidding goodbye to the NSG, India is also not going to miss it.
