Intellectual Thoughts by Sanjay Panda: July 2016


Can NSG be far behind? as India enters MTCR.



India became the 35th member of the Missile Technology  Control Regime (MTCR) as the members of the international anti-proliferation grouping agreed to admit India in the regime. The decks were cleared for India’s entry when it joined the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

MTCR is the first step for India’s entry in the four export control bodies, including the NSG (essentially  founded in response to the  Indian nuclear test in May 1974) , the Wassenaar  Arrangement and the Australia Group.   Entry & membership   of  few of  these  groups would end decades of denial of  some technology  &  further   will enable India to become a major supplier/player in the global missile market,   the technology  available in house now.  Over the years, it has developed technology that allows it to make missiles that precisely hit the targets.

While the NSG is focused on stemming the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Wassenaar Arrangement establishes lists of items for which member countries are to apply export controls. Australia Group formed in 1985 prompted by Iraq’s use of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War.

Only a few days ahead of  the MTCR clincher, India’s bid to enter the much-coveted  Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was denied by  China, a  member in the group,  by blocking it.  China, has been  playing  the spoilsport  since long  but an entry to MTCR  should  not be long  before India takes its due  & deserve  seat in the NSG  which Is been pending since long.