News: India, on January 19, 2018, joined the one of the export control regimes Australia Group as a 43rd member.
Importance: India’s joining to Australia group will raise its stature in the field of non-proliferation and also help it acquire critical technologies. According to the Ministry of External affairs of India, AG membership will help in establishing India’s credential further. Now India is a member of three of four non-proliferation regimes namely; Missile Technology Control Regime+ (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement+ (WA) as well as Australia Group (AG).
-Due to China’s opposion India is not able to take entry in the only one remaining Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
What is Australia Group?
- It is the cooperative and voluntary group of 43 countries (including India) working to counter the spread of materials, equipment and technologies that could contribute to the development or acquisition of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups.
- It was established in 1985. Since Australia took the initiatives, that is why it is named as an ‘Australia Group.’
- India became its member on January 19, 2018.
What is Wassenar Arrangement?
- This is an elite club of 42 countries (including India) that subscribe to arms export controls.
- It is an arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.
- This arrangement came into being in 1996 to succeed the Cold War-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls. The name comes from Wassenaar, a suburb of The Hague (Netherlands) where the agreement to start such a multi-lateral cooperation was reached in 1995.
- Its headquarters is situated in Geneva.
- Despite non-signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, India became its 42nd member on December 8, 2017.
What is MTCR?
- Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an export control regime voluntary partnership of 35 countries (including India). It was established in 1987 by G7 countries.
- This export control regime aims at restricting the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilogram payload for at least 300 kilometres, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
- India joined the MTCR on 27 June, 2016 as a 35th member. India became its member after it agreed to join the Hague Code of Conduct, dealing with the ballistic missile non-proliferation arrangement.
- MTCR membership would enable India to buy high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.
