Nuclear Supplier's Group (NSG)

Nuclear Supplier's Group (NSG)

Background:

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed in 1968 to prevent spread of nuclear materials, technology and weapons so as to develop co-operation among the nations. This treaty was signed by a total of 191 countries except India, South Sudan, Israel and Pakistan. This treaty recognized two groups of countries namely the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) comprising US, UK ,China,France and Russia and the other being Non Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS). 

As per this treaty:

 NWS member countries had to commit for the complete nuclear disarmament

NNWS agreed to let go the developing or acquiring of nuclear weapons.

 

Reasons for India and other countries did not signed in NWS:

 India and the rest of the countries dint sign this as they must dismantle all nuclear weapons and place them under international safeguards to become a NNWS member.Indian foreign policy was against this keeping in mind security concerns, for dismantling all our nuclear weapons will makes us more vulnerable if any untoward thing happens in the future.

 

Origin and Purpose:

NSG is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be used for development of nuclear weapons. NSG also sets global rules for international trade in nuclear energy technology. 

 

It was set up in 1974 as a reaction to India’s first successful nuclear tests at Pokhran (Code Name - Smiling Buddha) conducted on 18 May 1974, to stop so called misuse of nuclear material meant for peaceful purposes. 

 

Number of Members of NSG: 48 Numbers

 

Why is India seeking to become a member of NSG ?

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.

For building nuclear reactors, for providing energy we need nuclear materials. By becoming a member of NSG we can have better access of nuclear materials .

All nuclear based programmes of India is being run on indigenous technology. By becoming a member of NSG we will have access to sophisticated foreign technologies.

By becoming a member India can also sell it's Indigineous technology thereby giving 'Make In India' a face-lift.

Clean Energy - India is committed to reduce it's dependence on fossil fuels and scale up nuclear power production.

Why are certain countries opposing/supporting India's entry into NSG ?

 India has been trying to get into NSG since 2008. While India is being backed by United States, Switzerland and Mexico for it's membership of NSG (due to commendable efforts by NaMo), it is being opposed by China, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan.

 Recent Support for NSG Membership for India.

 Switzerland - on 6 June 2016 during PM Modi's visit to Geneva.

USA - President Obama - on 8 June 2016 during PM Modi's visit to Washington DC.

Japan has expressed support for India's bid for membership of the NSG.

China didn't approve of India's membership to NSG.

Mexico - In June 2016, India also got crucial support from Mexico

 

Basis of China, New Zealand, South Africa & Pakistan's opposition:

A country which is a non-signatory of NPT, CTBT etc shouldn’t be given a NSG membership.

 

China is putting forward their arguments on the basis that if India is to be granted a seat in NSG ,then all other South Asian countries like Pakistan which were non-signatory of NPT should be granted a seat too.

 

Meanwhile Pakistan is opposing India's entry merely because it doesn't want India to possess high end technologies in the nuclear field. And Pakistan also fears that if India becomes a member it could prevent it from becoming a memberjust like how China is currently down voting India.

Current Status:

India could not get the membership of NSG.

 India deserves NSG membership due to following:-

 

1. India has established itself as a responsible nuclear state

 

    (a) Declared a voluntary moratorium on further underground nuclear tests

 

    (b) Effectively acting in sense the spirit of NPT/ CTBT

    (c) Only as a minimum deterrence & pledging NFU (No First Use)

    (d) Unless faced with an attack of weapons of mass destruction

 

2. India’s nuclear doctrine is unique. 

 

    (a) It is non-offensive, non-proliferative and only for deterrence.

    (b) Prepared to accept full-scale IAEA safeguards.

  (c) Already acquired high-level expertise in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in industry,  power,  agriculture and health care.

   (d) India’s membership shall not only benefit it but also encourage civil nuclear trade globally without compromising on world peace and harmony.

 

Way Ahead:

 1. India may have one more chance to persuade China to give up it's opposition to India’s candidature.

 

2. This is expected to be at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Tashkent to be held on9th and 10th July'2016 where both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping are expected to be present.

 

3. Can talk with China for NSG membership. As China is seeking membership of MTCR of which India is now a member of.

 

4. India can have a better face to get permanent membership of United Nations Security Council.

 

Schemes by Govt. of India [ Part 2 ]

1.Atal pension yojana

• Launched- June 1, 2015
• The scheme focuses on unorganized sector. A pension provides people with a monthly income when they are no longer earning. A subscriber receives pension based on accumulated contribution out of his current income. The subscriber would receive the fixed monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 at the age of 60, depending on their contributions.
• To make the scheme more attractive, govt. would co-contribute 50 per cent of a subscribers contribution or Rs 1,000 per annum.
• If a person wants monthly pension of Rs 1,000 he would contribute Rs 181 a month. On his death his wife would get Rs 1,000 per month and after her death the nominee will get Rs 1.7 lakh.
• If a person wants monthly pension of Rs 3,000 he would contribute Rs 543 a month. On his death his wife would get Rs 3,000 per month and after her death the nominee will get Rs 5.1 lakh.
• Eligibility- The minimum age of joining Atal pension yojana scheme is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. One needs to contribute till one attains 60 years of age.
• The scheme is open to all bank account holders who are not members of any statutory social security scheme.

2.One rank one pension scheme

• The central government allotted Rs 1,000 crore for the implementation of one rank one pension scheme. According to the scheme, the armed forces personnel holding the same rank will get the same pension, regardless of the last drawn pay, years of service and the year’s  served in a particular rank.

3.Krishi amdani bima yojana

• To give an impetus to the dying agricultural practice.
• There is 14 crore hectares of agricultural land in India of which only 44 per cent is under irrigation.
• Pradhan mantri gram sinchai yojana would be introduced so that more agricultural land is irrigated.
• Talking about the plight of small and marginal farmers most of them were leaving the agricultural practice because of the uncertainty over the produce and returns.
• Krishi amdani bima yojana so that the farmers don’t bear any financial burden if their produce gets destroyed due to unexpected weather or for any other reason.

Schemes by Govt. of India [ Part 1 ]

1.    Pradhan mantri suraksha bima yojana

Ø  Launched- 9^th may,2015

Ø  Under ministry of finance

Ø  The scheme will be a one year cover, renewable from year to year, accident insurance scheme offering accidental death and disability cover for death or disability on account of an accident.

Ø  The scheme would be administered through public sector general insurance companies and other general insurance companies willing to offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with banks for this purpose.

Ø  Eligibility- Available to people in age group 18 to 70 years with bank account. Any person having a bank account and aadhar number linked to the bank account can give a simple form to the bank every year before 1^st June in order to join the scheme. Name of the nominee to be given in the form.

Ø  Premium- Rs 12 per annum

Ø  Payment mode- the premium will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribes account. This is the only mode available.

Ø  Risk coverage- For accidental death and full disability Rs 2 lakh and for partial disability Rs 1 lakh.

Ø  Terms of risk coverage- A person has to opt for the scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term option of continuing in which case his account will be auto-debited every year by the bank.

2.    Pradhan mantri jeevan jyoti yojana

Ø  Launched- 9^th may, 2015

Ø  Under ministry of finance

Ø  The scheme will be a one year cover, renewable from year to year, insurance scheme offering life insurance cover for death due to any reason.

Ø  Eligibility- Available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 and having a bank account. People who join the scheme before completing 50 years can, however, continue to have the risk of life cover up to the age of 55 years subject to payment of premium.

Ø  Premium- Rs 330 per annum. It will be auto-debited in one installment.

Ø  Payment mode- The payment of premium will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.

Ø  Risk coverage- Rs 2 lakh in case of death for any reason.

Ø  Terms of risk coverage- A person has to opt for the scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term option of continuing in which case his account will be auto-debited every year by the bank.

3.    Pradhan mantri jan dhan yojana

Ø  Launched- 28^th august,2014

Ø  Under ministry of finance

Ø  Scheme was launched with a revised target of 10 crore bank accounts by 26^thJanuary, 2015.

Ø  Payment solutions are an important part of financial inclusion for which a new card payment scheme known as RuPay card has been in operation since 8^th may, 2014.

Ø  Banks have further been asked to provide universal coverage across all the six lakh villages of the country by providing at least one basic banking account per household with indigenous RuPay debit card having inbuilt accident insurance and life insurance cover

Ø  The RuPay card is on par with other debit cards. These two schemes are complementary and will enable achievement of multiple objectives such as financial inclusion, insurance penetration and digitalization.