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Published online 23 July 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.973
News: Briefing
US-India nuclear deal moves forward
Landmark agreement faces opposition from scientists and arms-control experts.
A deal for nuclear cooperation between the United States and India is back on track after a crucial vote yesterday in India's parliament. Nature News takes a look at the controversial agreement and what it might mean for the globe's fragile non-proliferation regime.
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The Indo-US nuclear deal is a positive development between the two great democracies, namely India and the U.S.A. In the past there has been unnecessary friction between these two democracies, which defied logic and surely also lacked conventional wisdom. However, President Bush a preeminent leader with a global horizon has removed most hurdles in this relationship and the brilliant Dr. Manmohan Singh is also complimenting this approach of President Bush. Thus the relationship between these two democratic giants is further being strengthened. Mainly due to the efforts of the late Homi Jehangir Bhabha India's nuclear energy programme is the second largest and advanced indigenous programme after that of Japan in Asia. Already during Bhabha's lifetime many great advances were made. Such as the fabrication of the first atomic reactor namely, Apsara in Asia (if the then Soviet Union was not considered as a part of Asia). Other reactors such as Cirus, Zerlina etc., followed. Bhabha realized that India had one of the largest reserves of Thorium-232 in the world and hence he pushed for fast breeder technology to convert this element to fissionable Uranium-233. Uranium-233 is a duel purpose element and can be used for power generation and also for the production of nuclear weapons. Today India is one of the few countries in the world which operates (the others being Russia, France, Japan) a fast breeder reactor. This 40 MW reactor attained criticality on Oct. 18, 1985. Following this in the year 1996 the experimental 30 KW Kamini reactor went critical utilizing Uranium-233. At present the scientists of the Indira Gandhi Center For Atomic Research (IGCAR), are engaged in the construction of another indigenous FBR, this time a 500 MW one. This is the legacy of Bhabha, thus for most of us Indians Bhabha is Hrtpriya (in Sanskrit, dear to the heart). This nuclear deal (if formalized) surely will benefit India further as she can augment her nuclear energy programme further by importing reactors and fuel. A deal of such a magnitude should also be beneficial for the US economy as it will generate jobs. Moreover, as the Indian defence related reactors are not a part of this deal, thus there can be no external control on India's nuclear weapons programme. Also as a part of this deal, India does retain the provision of blasting more nuclear weapons (Dr. Manmohan has made this clear in the Indian Parliament), if she (India) thinks necessary, with no possibility of sanctions etc. Hence, most Indians are for this deal. Dr. Upinder Fotadar
The Indo-US nuclear deal may be fruitful to meet the energy shortge that India is suffering from distant past.It may take a great role in the economic development of India. At the same time the US nuclear companies will be getting a new market for the selling of nuclear fuel etc. So it may be a mutual benefit for both the countries if it runs in proper way. We are hopeful of getting a fruitful result out of it.