Smiling Buddha:-
In 1944, Homi Bhabha started the Tata institute of fundamental research at Mumbai marking the beginning of the atomic research in India. After the freedom from the Britishers in 1947, India decided to develop atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The initial name of the program was "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive". After the 1962 war with China followed by the Indo-Pak wars (1965&1971), India started pushing hard for Nuclear weapons too. Finally, India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 at the Pokhran range, Rajasthan. The name of the project was changed to "Smiling Buddha" because the device was detonated on the birth anniversary of The Gautam Buddha. Meanwhile, India also lost the Honorable late PM Lal Bahadur Shashtri and Pioneer of Indian Nuclear program Homi Bhabha in mysterious ways.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.):-
In response to India's Nuclear testing, immediately in 1975, the first meet was held for the Nuclear Suppliers Group. For the next 3 years, numerous meetings were conducted. The main aim of NSG was to control the export of Nuclear weapons and Nuclear weapons technology. Owing to the devastating effects of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and World War 2 many organizations and peace treaties came into existence. Out of which countries in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (N.P.T.) saw the need for NSG and further controlling the Nuclear weapon supply. Today there are 48 members of NSG.
India and N.S.G.:-
As of 2020, India is not a member of NSG. There are two main reasons for it, first India has not signed NPT, and the second is China. In the past two decades, numerous countries like The USA, UK, Brazil, Poland, etc. backed India for getting entry into NSG without signing NPT which is a basic prerequisite for the membership. But China is not letting India into the NSG (Pakistan has also applied for membership without signing NPT).
Why India wants NSG membership so badly:-
India's requirement of atomic energy (mostly Uranium) is huge. But domestic resources are very less. So to import Uranium and boost the Civil nuclear program is basic idea behind this membership bid. Importing and having access to weapon technology from developed nations is another idea. India is also bidding for UN permanent membership for which NSG membership will give an extra edge.
What if India never gets membership in NSG?
In 2008, The USA gave a clean waiver to India. So, India can access modern technology. Most of the countries are not waiting for India's membership to start the deal now. India has signed bilateral deals with countries like Canada, Russia, newly added Australia and Uzbekistan, etc. for the supply of Uranium. Therefore, not getting a membership is still fine for India but in the bigger picture, India needs to be the member of important international organizations.
Concluding, Nothing stopped for India without the membership. India again tested nuclear weapons in 1998 at Pokhran, Rajasthan. But to enjoy full access to modern technology and trade without any bilateral deal India needs membership. Though there are various basic flaws in the criteria of NSG which are yet to be solved. Clash of Interest of the USA, China, and other nations has also affected India's bid. The basic idea of NSG was to counter India's Nuclear program in 1975. So, giving India membership will undercut the main objective. Still, India should push hard for membership.
Signing off for the day, see you guys in the next blog.
Regards,
Bhargav Deshpande
