☢️ Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
📌 Overview
- Established: In response to India’s 1974 nuclear test (Pokhran-I); first met in November 1975 in London
- Nickname: Often referred to as the “London Club”
- Type: Multilateral export control regime
- Membership: 48 participating governments
- Legal Status: Informal group; not a treaty-based organization
- Decision-Making: Operates by consensus; guidelines are non-binding
🎯 Mandate and Vision
- Prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling export of:
- Nuclear materials
- Equipment
- Technology usable for weapon development
- Facilitate peaceful nuclear trade while upholding non-proliferation norms
- Support international efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
🛠️ Core Functions
- Export Control Guidelines: Two sets of guidelines:
- Nuclear materials and equipment
- Dual-use technologies
- Information Sharing: Members exchange data on nuclear transfers and proliferation risks
- Coordination: Harmonizes national export control policies
- Credential Verification: Ensures recipients meet non-proliferation standards
📜 Membership Criteria
- Full compliance with:
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or equivalent non-proliferation commitments
- International safeguards (e.g., IAEA)
- Support for non-proliferation efforts
- Transparent nuclear policies and export controls
🇮🇳 India and the NSG
- Not a member, due to non-signatory status to the NPT
- Received a “clean waiver” in 2008, allowing nuclear trade despite NPT non-signature
- Applied for membership in 2016; supported by majority of members
- Opposition: China and others insist on NPT adherence for membership
- India maintains a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing and pledges non-transfer of sensitive technology