Nuclear Suppliers Group — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
NSG Plenary Meeting in Almaty discusses membership criteria for non-NPT states
June 2024The 2024 NSG Plenary Meeting in Kazakhstan marked a significant development in the ongoing debate over membership criteria for non-NPT countries like India and Pakistan. For the first time since India's membership bid began in 2016, the NSG established a working group to develop formal criteria for admitting non-NPT states. This development came after sustained diplomatic pressure from India's supporters, including the United States, France, and Russia, who argued that the current ad-hoc approach was unsustainable. The working group's mandate includes examining precedents like the 2008 India waiver, assessing the non-proliferation credentials of applicant countries, and developing objective criteria that could apply to all non-NPT aspirants. However, China maintained its position that the NPT should remain the 'cornerstone' of the non-proliferation regime and that any criteria should not undermine the Treaty's universality. The establishment of the working group represents a procedural victory for India, as it moves the membership discussion from political rhetoric to technical evaluation.
UPSC Angle: This development is likely to be tested in questions about India's nuclear diplomacy, multilateral negotiations, and the evolution of international regimes. Expect questions on the significance of formal criteria versus ad-hoc decisions in international organizations.
India-France nuclear cooperation agreement signed during PM Modi's visit to Paris
July 2024Prime Minister Modi's visit to France in July 2024 resulted in the signing of a comprehensive nuclear cooperation agreement that leverages India's 2008 NSG waiver. The agreement covers collaboration in nuclear reactor technology, uranium supply, nuclear waste management, and research and development. Significantly, the agreement includes provisions for French company EDF to participate in India's nuclear power expansion program, potentially involving the construction of six EPR reactors in Maharashtra. This cooperation demonstrates the practical benefits of India's NSG waiver and strengthens the case for full membership. France, as a founding NSG member and strong supporter of India's membership bid, used this agreement to showcase how India's integration into the global nuclear order benefits both non-proliferation and clean energy goals. The timing of the agreement, just weeks after the Almaty plenary, was strategically significant, demonstrating India's credentials as a responsible nuclear partner.
UPSC Angle: This can be tested in questions about India-France relations, the practical implications of the NSG waiver, and how bilateral agreements support multilateral objectives. Also relevant for questions on India's clean energy transition and nuclear power policy.