India –US Nuclear Agreement

India –US Nuclear Agreement

The India –The US nuclear deal appears so dense and has got so tangle in politics that is became difficult far most people to form an opinion of there own. Then every one the right to know more about the deal and its implication for India.

Why is it called 123?

The name comes from the Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, under which the US has to conclude any bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.

What are its key features?

# India can have nuclear cooperation and trade with US and other without compromising its weapons program. India need not sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty NTP or put its nuclear facilities under full scope safeguards.

# It gives India assured fuel supplies for its civilian nuclear reactors for going under permanent in return for them going under permanent safeguards.

# It allows India to reprocess and recycle spent fuel.

How does it help us tangibly?

# India gets access o more and diversified source of energy. It breaks open a regime that blocked India’s access to high technology after the nuclear test in 1947.

# Doors will now open for high tech and dual use tech in sectors as drivers as IT, Defense, Space, Pharmaceuticals.

What are the Strategic Implications for India?

# India will get recognition .as a state with advanced nuclear technology.

# It won’t be a nuclear pariah

# The deal won’t be offered to Pakistan.

# It gets to keep its nuclear weapons.

What is US INTEREST?

# Raise of India helps US as in the post- cold war world; India an d the US on same side.

# the deal allows India to achieve its target of 20,000 MW of power by 2020. Also its clean energy and saving on carbon emission will be big.

# US firm s can partner India in high-tech ventures which they are forbidden to do at present.

What are the points of opposition in the US to deal?

# The non –proliferation lobby feels its too generous to India.

# That it should not get the right to reprocess spent fuel.

# India will make N-weapons with its own Uranium

# The “wrong signal” will go out to Iran, North Korea & Pakistan.

# It will undermine global non proliferation system.

How is the Hyde Act Relevant?

US, according to its Atomic Energy Act, can’t have nuclear cooperation with a country that has not signed the NPT or submitted itself to safe guards. The Hyde Act gives US administration the waiver to reach a pact with India, which hasn’t signed NTP. But there is a rider that India should work with US to contain Iran’s N-program. Govt. claims those foreign policy perceptions is not binding and deal won’t come unstuck if India ignores it.