The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on Saturday granted India a crucial waiver that will enable it to carry out nuclear commerce, ending 34 years of isolation enforced in the wake of the 1974 Pokharan nuclear tests. The victory in Vienna was received after India and US convinced NSG nations after two rounds of unsuccessful talks. US President George W Bush called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to congratulate on the development. The Prime Minister has called it a historic moment for India.

Austria, along with Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland had expressed strong reservations over the waiver being given to India. China also stressed on balancing energy needs and non-proliferation.

What does this deal mean to us?

The Indo-US nuclear deal is essentially a victory for Indian diplomacy and has brought India into the international nuclear club. The deal provides India, access to nuclear technology without signing Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) or Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It opens up nuclear commerce for the country, as India can now buy nuclear reactors from US, Russia and France and will get access to nuclear fuel from world market. The deal also enables India to have access to civilian space technology.

This is a landmark victory for India and we hope this opens gate for more nuclear technology based researches which will help development of India.

email