India applies for membership of Missile Technology Control Regime that controls missile & space tech

[Hindustani78]

By Pranab Dhal Samanta, ET Bureau | 11 Jun, 2015, 01.38AM IST
India applies for membership of Missile Technology Control Regime that controls missile & space tech - The Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Abandoning years of hostility, India has formally applied for the membership of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a West-dominated elite club of 34 countries that controls trade in missile and space technology. The application may happen at MTCR's plenary due in September-October.

Indian diplomats feel the country's chances of getting the membership are bright, thanks to US' assurances.

India's space and missile programmes will gain from MTCR membership since it will get access to world-class technology. MTCR will also allow it to export its own technology to countries that comply with the regime.

Applying for MTCR membership is an important diplomatic step because this brings India closer to technology control regimes that the country had fought and worked around for decades to build its missile and space programmes.

Senior officials familiar with the matter told ET New Delhi's aim is to have the membership considered at MTCR's next plenary in September-October. The current MTCR chair, Ronald Waess of Norway, could visit India next month as efforts are expected to pick up pace.

The decision to include India as a member has to be through consensus and India's bet is on Washington to pilot the process.

Several member countries have in the past few years welcomed India's desire to join the regime. MTCR was formed in 1987 and, through informal understanding between members, it maintains a tight control over trade in missile and rocket components.

Due to its nuclear weapons programme, India had always found itself at the receiving end of MTCR guidelines.

It could never get any active assistance for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme under which the Agni and Prithvi series of missiles were built.


INDIAN SPACE PROGRAMME SUFFERED

While the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) tightened controls on fissile material and weapons technology, MTCR was focused on delivery systems such as long-range missiles that would carry weapon payloads. The Indian space programme, though meant for peaceful purposes, also suffered as a consequence. ISRO's deal with Russia for purchase of cryogenic engines, for instance, ran aground after US objected to the sale as a violation of MTCR guid ..

One of the key outcomes of the Indo-US nuclear deal was that India would align itself to MTCR guidelines. Over the past six years, India has rejigged its export control guidelines to mirror MTCR requirements. NSG, it may be noted, also granted a special waiver for India as a consequence of the nuclear deal to be able to legitimately participate in nuclear trade despite its weapons programme.


The next stage is the membership of these groups. NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar arrangement (small arms) and Australia Group (chemical weapons) together constitute what India has always called the 'technology denial regime'.

With strong US assurance, further cemented during US President Barack Obama's visit to India, South Block took the call to first move for membership of MTCR. For the past few years, India has been engaging these groups through outreach discussions.

 

[Hindustani78]

India's MTCR application 'received well' | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 01:22
New Delhi: India's application to be a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has been received well, says the external affairs ministry.

"India has an application under submission since June 2015 to be a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). It has been received well and it remains under consideration.

"We are hopeful that MTCR discussions on this issue will conclude soon. India's membership of the MTCR and other export control regimes would further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives," the ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

MTCR is a 34-member informal non-treaty association of governments sharing common interests in the nonproliferation of missiles, unmanned air vehicles, and related technologies.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

India's application for missile tech control seat 'well received'


India’s application for membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) was “well-received” as the cartel controlling export of unmanned weapon delivery systems discussed the issue at its annual plenary meeting in Oslo on Friday.

The MTCR is one of the four export control regimes India has been trying to enter ever since it inked the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the US in 2008.

The 34-nation bloc, however, did not declare its decision on India’s application on Friday, indicating possibility of further discussion on the issue. New Delhi, however, expressed its hope that the MTCR would reach a decision soon.

New Delhi had applied for MTCR membership last June. “It has been received well and it remains under consideration,” official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said on Friday.

“We are hopeful that MTCR discussions on this issue will conclude soon. India’s membership of the MTCR and other export control regimes would further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives,” Swarup added.

The MTCR came into existence in 1987 with founding members like the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK.

Curbing proliferation

It now has 34 members. Its objective is to restrict proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for systems capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload at least 300 kilometres, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction or WMDs.

During his visit to New Delhi in 2010, American President Barack Obama pledged support to India’s bid for membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australian Group and the MTCR.

While the NSG controls global export of nuclear material and technology, the Wassenaar Arrangement is a grouping of 40 countries that controls global trade of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies. The Australian Group, on the other hand, governs international trade of materials used to make chemical and biological weapons. A waiver from the NSG for India in 2008 paved way for New Delhi’s nuke deal with Washington.

This ended India’s 34-year-long isolation from global nuclear commerce.

New Delhi’s bid to enter the 46-nation NSG, however, has not seen much success so far.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-to-make-india-its-member/article21293077.ece

The decision was taken at the two-day plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna.

In a significant development, elite export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on Thursday decided to admit India as its new member, which is expected to raise New Delhi’s stature in the field of non-proliferation besides helping it acquire critical technologies.

The decision was taken at the two-day plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna.

“Wassenaar Arrangement participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary meeting to admit India which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed,” the grouping said in a statement.

India’s entry into the export control regime would enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Significantly, China, which stonewalled India’s entry into the 48-nation NSG is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.

The Wassenaar Arrangement plays a significant role in promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

Its member countries are required to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.

In June last year, India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), another key export control regime, as a full member.

Since its civil nuclear deal with the U.S., India has been trying to get into export control regimes such as the NSG, the MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies.

French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler congratulated India on “joining” the Wassenaar Arrangement.

“One more recognition, after MTCR, of the growing role India plays in today’s world,” he said.

In the plenary session, the WA reaffirmed its strong support for robust export controls on a global basis as an important tool for ensuring international peace and stability.

It also adopted new export controls in a number of areas, including military explosives and specific electronic components.

“Existing controls were further clarified regarding ground stations for spacecraft, submarine diesel engines, technology related to intrusion software, software for testing gas turbine engines, analogue-to-digital converters, non- volatile memories and information security,” the grouping said in the statement at the end of the two-day meeting.

The next regular plenary meeting of WA will be held in Vienna in Austria in December 2018, it was announced.

 

[Hindustani78]

A screenshot of the Wassenaar Arrangement website.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-to-make-india-its-member/article21293077.ece

The membership is expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.
In a significant development, elite export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on Thursday decided to admit India as its new member, which is expected to raise New Delhi’s stature in the field of non-proliferation besides helping it acquire critical technologies.

The decision was taken at the two-day plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna.

“Wassenaar Arrangement participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary meeting to admit India which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed,” the grouping said in a statement.

India’s entry into the export control regime would enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Significantly, China, which stonewalled India’s entry into the 48-nation NSG, is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.

The Wassenaar Arrangement plays a significant role in promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

Its member countries are required to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.

In June last year, India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), another key export control regime, as a full member.

Since its civil nuclear deal with the U.S., India has been trying to get into export control regimes such as the NSG, the MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies.

French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler congratulated India on “joining” the Wassenaar Arrangement.

“One more recognition, after MTCR, of the growing role India plays in today’s world,” he said.

In the plenary session, the WA reaffirmed its strong support for robust export controls on a global basis as an important tool for ensuring international peace and stability.

It also adopted new export controls in a number of areas, including military explosives and specific electronic components.

“Existing controls were further clarified regarding ground stations for spacecraft, submarine diesel engines, technology related to intrusion software, software for testing gas turbine engines, analogue-to-digital converters, non- volatile memories and information security,” the grouping said in the statement at the end of the two-day meeting.

The next regular plenary meeting of WA will be held in Vienna in Austria in December 2018, it was announced.

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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/646954/wassenaar-arrangement-admits-india-42nd.html
Anirban Bhaumik, NEW DELHI, DH News Service, Dec 8 2017, 12:14 IST

The 23rd annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) concluded in Vienna after the members agreed to admit India as its 42nd member. File photo

India got a berth at the Wassenaar Arrangement, which controls the global commerce of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

The 23rd annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) concluded in Vienna late on Thursday after the members agreed to admit India as its 42nd member.

"Confirming that the existing membership criteria continue to apply, participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary to admit India, the Arrangement's 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining are completed," said Jean-Louis Falconi, who chaired the plenary on behalf of the French government.

The statement was put up on the WA website.

"As president of the WA this year and co-rapporteur of India's candidacy, France warmly congratulates India for joining the Arrangement. One more recognition, after admission into (Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) of the growing role India plays in today's world," tweeted Alexandre Ziegler, French ambassador to India.

"The United States welcomes the successful conclusion of the #WassenaarArrangement plenary, which offered #India membership, agreed upon over 80 control list updates, & (and) exchanged views on #proliferation challenges," the US mission to UN in Vienna tweeted.

The WA is the second multilateral export control regime that opened up its door for India.

The MTCR admitted India as a member in June 2016. The MTCR's primary objective is to restrict the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for systems capable of carrying a 500 kg payload for at least 300 km, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction.

India is also keen to get the membership of Australian Group, which governs the international trade of materials used to make chemical and biological weapons.

China, however, has been persistently blocking India's move to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which controls the international trade of atomic technologies and materials.

Beijing has been maintaining that the NSG should first "explore" through "an open and transparent" process and reach agreement on a "non-discriminatory formula" to deal with the issue of granting membership to countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Once the non-discriminatory formula would be adopted by the NSG, the cartel should move to the second stage to take up the "country-specific membership issues", argued China.

The NSG controls global nuclear commerce. The guidelines of the organisation prohibit its members to enter into nuclear deals with countries that have not signed the NPT.

India and Pakistan are not signatories to NPT.

On Thursday, Beijing reiterated that its position on admitting new members to the NSG remained unchanged.

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Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. ANI file

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/india-accepted-into-wassenaar-arrangement/510192.html

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 8

In a boost to its nuclear non-proliferation credentials, India has been accepted as the 42nd member of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA).

After its two-day plenary session in Vienna on 6 and 7 December, the grouping said in a statement, “Wassenaar Arrangement participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary meeting to admit India which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed.”

A global export-control regime, the arrangement will broaden access to sensitive technologies for India despite being non-signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The membership is expected to ease access to high-tech items for defence and space programmes, according to Indian officials and also makes it eligible for some licensing exceptions.

Accepting the offer for admission, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar informed, “The necessary procedural arrangements for India’s admission will be completed shortly.”

Formally known as the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, the organisation, which was established in 1996, is key to the global non-proliferation regime.

While consensus is required for admission of a new state, India’s membership pushed by the United States did not hit the China wall here unlike in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) negotiations because Beijing is not a part of the arrangement.

Italy, the sole dissenting voice following the diplomatic row over the Marines trial case, came on board after recent reset of bilateral ties and the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India.

Last year India acceded to the Missile Control Technology Regime and awaits entry to the Australia group, an informal export-control grouping concerned with the non-proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

Asked if Wassenaar Arrangement memberships helps India’s push for NSG, the spokesperson said, “The two are not connected but when you join one it does prove your credentials.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in Delhi next week to participate in the Russia-India-China trilateral.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov said in Delhi this week that Moscow has been talking to Beijing about India’s NSG membership, and now with the Wassenaar clearance, the issue might figure in talks next week.

US Ambassador Kenneth Juster congratulated India on Twitter recalling he was involved in this process previously as Under Secretary of Commerce.

Alexandre Ziegler, envoy of France, which is president of the arrangement this year and also co-rapporteur of India’s candidacy, welcomed the announcement.

 

[Hindustani78]

Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, December 08, 2017 23:34 IST
Updated: December 08, 2017 23:39 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...arrangement/article21347560.ece?homepage=true

Space, defence to gain from entry to export control regime

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday welcomed the decision of the Wassenaar Arrangement to admit India as the 42nd member of the organisation which aims to regulate trade and use of dual use technology.

Officials said that following admission into the club, India will get access to high technology, which will help address the demands of Indian space and defence sectors.

It will also boost New Delhi’s chances of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

“The Plenary meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) held on 6 to 7 December 2017 in Vienna, Austria, has decided to admit India, which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state. The necessary procedural arrangements for India’s admission will be completed shortly,” the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said at his weekly briefing.

 

[The BrOkEn HeArT]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-to-make-india-its-member/article21293077.ece

The decision was taken at the two-day plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna.

In a significant development, elite export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on Thursday decided to admit India as its new member, which is expected to raise New Delhi’s stature in the field of non-proliferation besides helping it acquire critical technologies.

The decision was taken at the two-day plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna.

“Wassenaar Arrangement participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary meeting to admit India which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed,” the grouping said in a statement.

India’s entry into the export control regime would enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Significantly, China, which stonewalled India’s entry into the 48-nation NSG is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.

The Wassenaar Arrangement plays a significant role in promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

Its member countries are required to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.

In June last year, India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), another key export control regime, as a full member.

Since its civil nuclear deal with the U.S., India has been trying to get into export control regimes such as the NSG, the MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies.

French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler congratulated India on “joining” the Wassenaar Arrangement.

“One more recognition, after MTCR, of the growing role India plays in today’s world,” he said.

In the plenary session, the WA reaffirmed its strong support for robust export controls on a global basis as an important tool for ensuring international peace and stability.

It also adopted new export controls in a number of areas, including military explosives and specific electronic components.

“Existing controls were further clarified regarding ground stations for spacecraft, submarine diesel engines, technology related to intrusion software, software for testing gas turbine engines, analogue-to-digital converters, non- volatile memories and information security,” the grouping said in the statement at the end of the two-day meeting.

The next regular plenary meeting of WA will be held in Vienna in Austria in December 2018, it was announced.

You must open new thread on this.
This membership is different than MTCR.

 

[Hindustani78]

You must open new thread on this.
This membership is different than MTCR.

Try to understand how these International conventions are linked to each other.


The Wassenaar Arrangement is an elite club of countries which subscribe to arms export controls, similar to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime.

The goal of the Arrangement is to "promote transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies". Participants are required to "ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine the goal". The aim, according to WA, is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.

Wassenaar Arrangement simply as a Cold War instrument with a different name. According to them Arrangement perpetuates a digital divide by restricting western companies and governments from supplying crucial technologies to emerging markets.

 

[Hindustani78]

Anirban Bhaumik, DH News Service, New Delhi, Dec 10 2017, 12:37 IST

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/647355/category-8-paves-way-indias.html

If India got a seat at the Wassenaar Arrangement this week, it was largely due to the "Category 8" - the latest inclusion in its export control list.

New Delhi substantially modified its export control mechanism to meet the requirement of the Wassenaar Arrangement, which regulates international transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies. What however finally opened up the WA's door for India this week is the "Category 8" - a new inclusion in the roll of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies, a.k.a. the SCOMET list.

Since the goods and technologies included in the SCOMET list can be used both for civil and military purposes, the government exercises strict control over their export from India. The SCOMET goods and technologies can be exported only under licenses issued by the government.

India's SCOMET list included eight categories of goods and technologies – from Category 0 to Category 7 “ till early this year.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on April 24 added the new "Category 8" to the SCOMET list, including in it certain special materials and related equipment, material processing, electronics, computers, telecommunications, information security, sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, marine, aerospace and propulsion.

The Wassenaar Arrangement maintains two "Control Lists" - one comprising dual-use goods and technologies and the other comprising certain munitions. The cartel's "participating governments" exercise stringent control on export of the items and technologies included in the two lists in order to prevent "unauthorised transfers or re-transfers".

The items included in the new Category 8 of India's SCOMET roll are the ones that the Wassenaar Arrangement also put on its control list of dual use goods and technologies.

The DGFT added the new "Category 8" to the SCOMET list to "harmonise" India's Export Control list with that of the Wassenaar Arrangement and thus to meet the membership criteria of the cartel.

"Category 6" of the SCOMET list was kept "reserved" till earlier this year. It was also populated with the same items the Wassenaar Arrangement put on its munitions list.

The items listed under Category 0 of the SCOMET roll included "nuclear materials, nuclear-related other materials, equipment and technology". Category 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 includes toxin chemical agents and other chemicals; micro-organisms and toxins; certain materials, materials-processing equipment and related technologies; nuclear-related other equipment, assemblies and components, test and production equipment and related technology that are not controlled under Category 0 and aerospace systems, equipment including production and test equipment, related technology and specially designed components and accessories respectively.

It was however the inclusion of the "Category 8" in its SCOMET list that made the 41 participating governments of the Wassenaar Arrangement agree to admit India as the 42nd member in the annual plenary of the cartel in Vienna this week.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...gement-important-to-india/article21822896.ece


Is India a nuclear power?
Before its nuclear weapons test in 1998, India was considered a nuclear capable country but was not recognised as one. This meant that there was no formal recognition that India was capable of producing both nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

The reason for this was mainly because India had not acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which aims to prevent spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology and promote nuclear disarmament, which India considered discriminatory since it could do so only as a non-nuclear power. That would mean that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the U.S., the U.K., China, France and Russia — coincidentally all nuclear powers, would in effect continue to deny India the recognition as a nuclear power as well, even though it was widely acknowledged as a nuclear capable country after the 1974 “peaceful nuclear explosion” at Pokhran.

What is India's stand?

India wanted to break out into the open and be recognised as a nuclear power like the other nuclear countries and be part of the global nuclear order, not as a nuclear hold out. For that to happen, India needed to be recognised as a nuclear power and be made part of the global non-proliferation architecture. There are four groupings of countries that multilaterally work to prevent and address proliferation of nuclear weapons, the technology that enables making of nuclear weapons and the systems that are capable of delivering those weapons. The Wassenaar Arrangement is one such. The Missile Control Technology Regime (MTCR) is another; India became a member of this grouping last year. The Australia Group and the Nuclear Suppliers Group are the other two; India is not a member of either yet.

What is the Wassenaar Arrangement?
The Wassenaar Arrangement is a grouping of 42 countries, of which India is the latest entrant (on December 8) that seek to bring about security and stability, by fostering transparent practices in the process of sale and transfer of arms and materials and technologies that can be used to make nuclear weapons with a view to prevent any undesirable build-up of such capabilities. By doing so the grouping hopes to stymie destabilising developments. A further aim is also to prevent these proscribed items and technologies from falling into the hands of terrorists as well. Significantly, one of the purposes of the arrangement is to “enhance co-operation to prevent the acquisition of armaments and sensitive dual-use items for military end-uses, if the situation in a region or the behaviour of a state is, or becomes, a cause for serious concern to the Participating States.”

How do Wassenaar countries do this?
They periodically exchange detailed and specific information on transfer or denial of items or technology, both conventional and nuclear capable, to countries outside the grouping. This is done through maintenance and updating of detailed lists, of dual use and munitions that are considered militarily significant.

There are various classifications of the sub-sections of the lists. The dual use list has for example, the sensitive list and the very sensitive list. The disclosure of such sale or transfer is voluntary.

What are the advantages?
India will be able to more easily access dual use technologies and materials and military equipment that are proscribed for non-participating members. India will also be able to sell its nuclear reactors and other materials and equipment indigenously produced without attracting adverse reactions. It will also be in a better position to collaborate with other countries in developing such capabilities.

Will it help to join other groups?
There are more or less the same countries in all these groupings, with one crucial exception. China, which has been opposed to India’s entry into the NSG, is not part of both the MTCR as well as the Australia Group. So it should be easier to get into the Australia Group.

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[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
20-December, 2017 18:24 IST
Smuggling of radioactive material

To check the smuggling of radioactive material, the Government of India has formulated scheme which is aimed at detection, interception, interdiction, prevention, preparedness and response to mitigate consequences for unauthorized entry of radioactive material.

A coordinated approach involving various stake holder agencies is made to deal with the threat from acquired/smuggled nuclear or other radioactive materials. Under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government has set up an institutional mechanism at the national level named as Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST). The CNST has representation from all concerned Ministries / Departments/ Agencies and meets periodically.

DAE has also developed Emergency Response Centers (DAE-ERCs) for technical expertise and advice on using radiation detection, usage of instruments and systems, analysis of results of radiological survey, formulating detection and response to Nuclear/Radiological including emergencies in public domain. A total of 23 DAE-ERCs are operational at various sites of DAE across India.

The radiation monitoring gadgets are installed at entry points which would be useful in detection, interception, interdiction, prevention of smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material across land crossings, border, airport, seaport and all entry points. Ministry of Home Affairs /National Disaster Management Authority have selected 56 major cities/vulnerable locations and 900 police stations for installation of these equipment .

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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