Will India make it to the NSG by end of 2016?

New Delhi, June 21: Will New Delhi succeed in becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group by 2016. India does hope it could be part of the NSG by the end of the year and a primary reason for this is because it feels it is better to work with Barack Obama whose term ends in January 2017.

However, the race to the NSG seems to be a difficult one for India and the latest is that China will not let this issue be taken up during the NSG's meeting in Seoul on June 24.

While it is quite evident that China does not want to anger its all weather friend Pakistan, India however is avoiding any direct references to that. India has maintained that it has no opposition or views on other members joining.

Why is the NSG entry so important?

It was the 2008 civil nuclear deal with the US that paved the way for India's NSG bid. The same year India had got a one time waiver from the NSG to source power from non-fossil sources. However India needs more energy and as per the calculations it needs to source 40 per cent of power from non-fossil sources.

With an entry into the NSG, India can continue to avail the best technology for nuclear energy without seeking waivers.

India would also be in a stronger position to implement its plan of building reactors and selling it outside if it becomes part of the NSG.

Once India is part of the NSG it would also have access to technology in the defence, space and nuclear sector.

Further admission to the Missile Technology Control Regime would also pave the way for India to buy high end missile technology.
A membership to the NSG would also help firms in India expand business.

The nuclear industry in India would no longer have to work in isolation and will have to cater to international norms. This would mean a better market presence world wide.

Why is India in a hurry?

India feels that it is better to work this issue while Obama is still in office. It was Obama who had assured India of working on this issue.
This is the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making an all out push across the world.

India has no idea of what the US stand would be if a Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump come to power.
However how successful will India be is a difficult guess.

Officials say it is bound to happen sooner or later. But to answer whether it would happen before the end of the year, is difficult to comment on the official also noted.

For India China continues to be the stumbling block. India has toned down the narrative against China by not mentioning the South China sea in the recent joint statement made with the US.

There have also not been any references made to the freedom of navigation on the South China sea. These are seen as attempts not to anger China so that it supports the NSG bid.

OneIndia News