Blog of India

In July 2005,  J.W. Bush and our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued a joint statement envisaging an Indo-US nuclear deal.

In July 2006, the two nations reached a bilateral agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation in August 2007 after the US House of Representatives voted to approve the deal.

allowing the US to supply civilian nuclear technology, the deal would lift the United Stats moratorium on nuclear trade with India. The  ban on supplying India with nuclear fuel and technology came into effect after India’s first nuclear test in 1974.

Under this deal, US-Indian cooperation in energy and satellite technology would expand.

India would have to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, and submit civilian facilities to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

India would decide which of its nuclear facilities would be classified as civilian. At present, India has promised to place 14 of its 22 reactors under IAEA safeguards permanently.

India has also promised that all future civilian thermal and breeder reactors shall be placed under the IAEA safeguards.

Under the deal, India would agree to continue its moratorium on nuclear weapons testing. Also to strengthening the security of its nuclear arsenals.

India would agree to working toward negotiating a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) with the US. This envisages a ban on production of fissile material for weapons purposes.

India would agree to support international non-proliferation efforts.

United States companies would be allowed to build nuclear reactors in India and provide nuclear fuel for its civilian energy needs.

India would thus get imported fuel for its civilian nuclear reactors.

India would be able to buy United States dual-use nuclear technology, including material and equipment that could be used to enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium (critics point out this is potential to create the material for nuclear bombs)

There are three nuclear countries outside the NPT - Israel, Pakistan and India. This deal would put India in a unique position.

United States says the deal is very necessary to reflect the improved ties of the world’s biggest two democracies. Also it recognizes that India is a responsible nuclear country with a history of imposing voluntary safeguards on its nuclear program.

Also with this deal,  some of Indian nuclear facilities will undergo international inspection.

India says that the nuclear power will help meet the energy we need.

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