Different Dimensions of US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Bloomberg.com: India & Pakistan

---

---

From the above report, following extract has been derived.

---

President Bush has signed the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement on October 8, 2008.

The general electric co. now can sell nuclear fuel and technology to India which has tremendous demand for energy.

The law passed is US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. The Senate passed the legislation allowing the India nuclear accord on Oct. 1 by a vote of 86-13. The House approved the measure by a vote of 298-117 on Sept. 27.


India needs energy in great amount in order to sustain its 8% economic growth annually. For that, it is estimated that there is scope of 175 billion dollar business with India.

However, even when the legislation has been passed and now becomes an act, there is still opposition against the cooperation with India.

The agreement signed by President Bush is governed by U.S. Atomic Energy Act.

The opponents to the agreement in US feel that India will abuse the cooperation extended by US to India in order to develop her energy producing nuclear facilities. The main susceptible group is Arms Control Association and Centre of Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

Before the agreement, India was benefited when India got waiver from the NSG and allowed to buy nuclear fuel and technology. India has yet to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The agreement will also be beneficial to the U.S. It will create nearly 2.5 lakh jobs in U. S.

The U. S. companies which may trade with India in field of nuclear technologies and goods are General Electric co, Areva SA, Westinghouse Electric co and Rosatom Corp.

The India first reactor was build with the technology of General Electric Co. in 1961.

However, the opponent of the agreement feel that India would again indulge in nuclear arms prolification. They emphasis that as per the US Atomic Energy Act, in such an eventuality, if India again indulge in nuclear arm prolification, then she will invite ban again. This has been imposed in 1974 and it is nearly after 34, that it has been raised now.