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Q33 (IAS/2018) International Relations & Global Affairs › Global Indices, Reports & Agreements › Nuclear arms control regime Official Key

In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)' ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A. India agreed to separate its civil and military nuclear facilities and to place all its civil nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards[2], and the Additional Protocol came into force on 25 July 2014, giving the IAEA enhanced access to India's civil power facilities[3]. This means that ratifying the Additional Protocol brings civilian nuclear reactors under IAEA safeguards and inspection.

Option B is incorrect because while safeguards apply to some of their activities, others remain beyond scrutiny[4], indicating that military installations are not subject to IAEA inspection. Option C is misleading because the IAEA approved the safeguards agreement with India, after which the United States approached the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to grant a waiver to India to commence civilian nuclear trade. The 48-nation NSG granted the waiver to India on September 6, 2008, allowing it to access civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries[5]—the NSG waiver was a separate process, not an automatic implication of the Additional Protocol. Option D is incorrect as the Additional Protocol does not confer automatic NSG membership.

Sources
  1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93United_States_Civil_Nuclear_Agreement
  2. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93United_States_Civil_Nuclear_Agreement
  3. [3] https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/non-proliferation/safeguards-to-prevent-nuclear-proliferation
  4. [4] https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/non-proliferation/safeguards-to-prevent-nuclear-proliferation
  5. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93United_States_Civil_Nuclear_Agreement
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Q. In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 7.5/10
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This question tests the 'Scope & Definition' of a specific diplomatic instrument. It demands you distinguish between a technical inspection tool (IAEA Protocol) and a political status (NSG Membership). If you understood the core logic of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal (Separation Plan), this was straightforward.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does India's ratification of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol place India's civilian nuclear reactors under IAEA safeguards?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > IAEA > p. 58
Strength: 4/5
“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in 1957. It came into being to implement US President Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" proposal. It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to prevent its use for military purposes. IAEA teams regularly inspect nuclear facilities all over the world to ensure that civilian reactors are not being used for military purposes. peacekeeping efforts is a long and substantial one. The country's economic emergence on the world stage is another factor that perhaps justifies India's claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council. India has also made regular financial contributions to the UN and never faltered on its payments.”
Why relevant

States that the IAEA 'regularly inspect nuclear facilities ... to ensure that civilian reactors are not being used for military purposes' — establishes the IAEA's role in safeguarding civilian reactors.

How to extend

A student could use this rule plus knowledge of what the Additional Protocol does (expanded inspection/access) to infer that acceptance of IAEA measures can increase oversight of civilian reactors.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 761
Strength: 5/5
“The Manmohan Singh government made efforts for stronger ties with the United States. The prime minister visited the US in July 2005 to initiate negotiations over the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. When, in 2006, President George W. Bush visited India, the declaration over the nuclear agreement was made. This gave India access to American nuclear fuel and technology, though in return India would have to allow its civil nuclear reactors to be inspected by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). It was only in October 2008 that India and the US finally signed the agreement after further negotiations and approval from the IAEA, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the US Congress.”
Why relevant

Says the Indo‑US civilian nuclear agreement required India to 'allow its civil nuclear reactors to be inspected by the IAEA' as a condition for access to fuel and technology.

How to extend

One could extend this by checking whether ratifying the Additional Protocol was the specific legal step that fulfilled or expanded those IAEA inspection obligations under the 2008 deal.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Smiling Buddha > p. 703
Strength: 3/5
“Though there was euphoria in many sections of the population, there was also a perception that the test was authorised by Indira Gandhi to divert attention from the unrest that was going on in the country. International Reaction Though India called it a test for 'peaceful purposes', the rest of the world was not too happy about it. The Nuclear Suppliers Group was formed to check nuclear proliferation. As the plutonium used in the test came from the CIRUS reactor supplied by Canada and the heavy water was supplied by the US, the two countries were unhappy. Canada suspended assistance for the two heavy water reactors then under construction.”
Why relevant

Notes the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was formed to check proliferation after India's tests, implying supplier regimes link civilian cooperation/supply to non‑proliferation safeguards.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the fact that NSG/ suppliers often require IAEA safeguards/Protocols as conditions for nuclear commerce to evaluate whether India’s ratification affects safeguards status.

INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
Strength: 3/5
“Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1948, progress could be made only after the establishment of the Atomic Energy Institute at Trombay in 1954 which was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1967. The important nuclear power projects are Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata near Kota (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Kakarapara (Gujarat).”
Why relevant

Lists India's major nuclear power plants and centres, which identifies the civilian reactors that would be subject to any IAEA safeguards or additional oversight.

How to extend

Using a map or reactor list one could identify which specific facilities might fall under IAEA safeguards if the Additional Protocol or similar arrangements apply.

Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Security in the Contemporary World > India's Security Strategy > p. 77
Strength: 2/5
“the South Asian region, India's decision to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 was justified by the Indian government in terms of safeguarding national security. India first tested a nuclear device in 1974. The second component of India's security strategy has been to strengthen international norms and international institutions to protect its security interests. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, supported the cause of Asian solidarity, decolonisation, disarmament, and the UN as a forum in which international conflicts could be settled. India also took initiatives to bring about a universal and non-discriminatory nonproliferation regime in which all countries would have the same rights and obligations with respect to weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, chemical).”
Why relevant

Describes India's position favouring a 'universal and non-discriminatory nonproliferation regime' — a policy context for selectively accepting international safeguards.

How to extend

A student could use this to assess whether India’s ratification is consistent with a policy of accepting safeguards for some civilian activities while resisting blanket treaties.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2008 · Q60 Relevance score: -0.76

Consider the following statements 1. India has 10 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). 2. The spent fuel from the PHWRs is reprocessed into plutonium. 3. All imported reactors are under the safeguards of the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-II · 2007 · Q41 Relevance score: -0.76

Consider the following statements 1. India has 10 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). 2. The spent fuel from the PHWRs is reprocessed into plutonium. 3. All imported reactors are under the safeguards of the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

CDS-I · 2006 · Q14 Relevance score: -1.02

Consider the following statements 1. India is a permanent member of the Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 2. In September 2005, on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, India voted against the resolut ion of IA EA’s Board of Governors. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

IAS · 2020 · Q45 Relevance score: -1.42

In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under "IAEA Safeguards" while others are not ?

CDS-I · 2009 · Q3 Relevance score: -3.65

Consider the following statements about IAEA 1. It was set up as the world's Atoms for Peace organisation in 1957. 2. The IAEA Secretariat is headqurtered at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. 3. In terms of its statute, the IAEA reports annually to the UN General Assembly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?