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Q45 (IAS/2020) International Relations & Global Affairs › Global Indices, Reports & Agreements › Nuclear arms control regime Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 2. In India, the distinction between nuclear reactors under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Safeguards and those outside them is based on the source of fuel used.

  • Imported Uranium: Reactors that rely on imported fuel are mandatory signatories to the Separation Plan agreed upon after the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal. To ensure imported nuclear material is used strictly for peaceful civilian purposes and not diverted for military use, these reactors are placed under IAEA monitoring.
  • Domestic Uranium: Reactors using indigenous uranium reserves are kept outside the safeguards to maintain India’s strategic autonomy and support its nuclear weapons program.

Why other options are incorrect: Option 1 is wrong as thorium-based reactors are still experimental. Options 3 and 4 are incorrect because all nuclear power plants in India are currently state-owned and operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL); foreign private ownership is not permitted under current laws.

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Q. In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under "IAEA Safeguards" while others are not ? [A] Some use uranium and others use thorium …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 5/10
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This is not a Science question; it is a History/IR question disguised as Science. It tests the core 'Quid Pro Quo' of the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008) covered in Spectrum and NCERT Pol Sci. The 'Separation Plan' explicitly traded access to imported fuel for IAEA safeguards.

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 the type of nuclear fuel (uranium versus thorium) determine whether an Indian nuclear reactor is placed under IAEA safeguards?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"requiring India to put most of the country's nuclear power reactors under IAEA safeguards ... This would be used for fuel arising from those 14 reactors designated as unambiguously civilian and under full IAEA safeguards."
Why this source?
  • Directly states India agreed to put most of its power reactors under IAEA safeguards as part of a deal and designates 14 reactors as civilian and under full safeguards.
  • Implies placement is determined by the political/agreement designation and fuel origin, not simply by fuel type.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"The timeliness and significant quantity values vary according to the type of nuclear material and other considerations."
Why this source?
  • Explains that IAEA inspection frequency and significant-quantity/timeliness goals vary by type of nuclear material.
  • Indicates that material type affects safeguards measures and verification intensity, but not the fundamental decision of whether a reactor is placed under safeguards.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"there are greater technical challenges for verifying materials, due to more complex fuel forms and"
Why this source?
  • Notes that establishing safeguards for certain reactor types has been more resource-intensive because of more complex fuel forms.
  • Suggests fuel form affects verification challenges and implementation effort, rather than the basic determination of placement under safeguards.

Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > IAEA > p. 58
Strength: 5/5
“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 inspects nuclear facilities 'to ensure that civilian reactors are not being used for military purposes' — i.e., inspections are linked to civilian vs military status.

How to extend

A student could use this civilian/military distinction to check whether safeguarded reactors are categorized by purpose rather than by fuel type.

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

Indo‑US civil nuclear agreement required India 'to allow its civil nuclear reactors to be inspected by the IAEA' in return for fuel/technology, again linking safeguards to 'civil' reactors.

How to extend

One could map which Indian reactors were declared civil under the deal and see if those (regardless of uranium/thorium) entered safeguards.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy > p. 26
Strength: 4/5
“Looking at the exhaustible nature of the fossil fuels, nuclear energy development has become very vital for the economic development of the country. In India, it has a vast potential for future energy development. It is produced from uranium and thorium. At present there are 17 nuclear plants across the country. The atomic power stations are given in (Table 8.12).”
Why relevant

States India produces nuclear energy 'from uranium and thorium' and lists existing plants, showing that both fuels are in domestic use.

How to extend

A student can list reactors using uranium vs thorium and then check whether IAEA inspection status correlates with fuel type or with civil/military designation.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“Torium is a by-product of the extraction of rare earths from monazite sands. Torium was used for the breeding of nuclear fuel uranium. It is used as a nuclear fuel in aircraft engines. Torium is a very efective radiation shield. India's Kakrapara-1 reactor is the world's frst reactor which uses thorium. Australia, USA, and India have large deposits of thorium, followed by Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey.”
Why relevant

Notes thorium is used as nuclear fuel and gives an example (Kakrapar‑1) of a reactor using thorium, providing a concrete fuel‑type example.

How to extend

Use the Kakrapar‑1 example to look up whether that reactor is under safeguards (using external sources) to test whether thorium use predicts safeguards status.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > iii) nuclear Energy > p. 52
Strength: 3/5
“(iii) nuclear Energy Looking at the increasing demand of energy and the exhaustible nature of fossil fuels, nuclear energy development has become of great signifcance in most of the big and small countries of the world. It is also a source of green energy. Nuclear energy is produced from uranium and thorium. Although, India is largely dependent on other countries for the supply of uranium, it has 27 nuclear power plants generating about 4 per cent of the energy supply of the country.”
Why relevant

Mentions India has multiple nuclear power plants and that nuclear energy in India comes from uranium and thorium, reinforcing that fuel types coexist across the civil programme.

How to extend

Compare the roster of Indian plants (fuel used) with which were opened to IAEA inspection to see if fuel correlates with safeguards placement.

Statement 2
Does the source of uranium (imported versus domestically produced) determine whether an Indian nuclear reactor is placed under IAEA safeguards?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"It would allow India to reprocess US-origin and other foreign-sourced nuclear fuel at a new national plant under IAEA safeguards. This would be used for fuel arising from those 14 reactors designated as unambiguously civilian and under full IAEA safeguards."
Why this source?
  • States India agreed to put most nuclear power reactors under IAEA safeguards, linking safeguards status to specific designations.
  • Specifically allows reprocessing of US-origin and other foreign-sourced nuclear fuel under IAEA safeguards, tying foreign-sourced fuel to safeguarded handling.
  • Identifies that fuel arising from 14 reactors designated as unambiguously civilian would be under full IAEA safeguards, implying source/designation affects safeguards application.

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

Explicit example: the Indo–US civilian nuclear agreement linked access to foreign fuel/technology with a requirement to allow civil reactors to be inspected by the IAEA.

How to extend

A student could infer that supplier agreements can condition access to fuel/technology on safeguards, so checking which reactors used imported fuel/tech (or were part of such deals) could indicate which were placed under safeguards.

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 the IAEA's role: it inspects nuclear facilities to ensure civilian reactors are not used for military purposes.

How to extend

Combine this rule with knowledge of which reactors are designated 'civilian' vs military/dual-use to judge whether safeguards apply irrespective of fuel source.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Smiling Buddha > p. 703
Strength: 4/5
“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

Historical example where foreign suppliers (Canada, US) reacted when material/technology they supplied was involved in a weapons test, leading to supplier restrictions (formation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group).

How to extend

Use this pattern to reason that suppliers may impose post-supply restrictions (including safeguards) on facilities that use their equipment or material, so identifying supplier-origin of reactors/material can be telling.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > iii) nuclear Energy > p. 52
Strength: 3/5
“(iii) nuclear Energy Looking at the increasing demand of energy and the exhaustible nature of fossil fuels, nuclear energy development has become of great signifcance in most of the big and small countries of the world. It is also a source of green energy. Nuclear energy is produced from uranium and thorium. Although, India is largely dependent on other countries for the supply of uranium, it has 27 nuclear power plants generating about 4 per cent of the energy supply of the country.”
Why relevant

States India has been largely dependent on other countries for the supply of uranium.

How to extend

A student could cross-check which plants rely on imported uranium and see if those plants were subject to safeguards or international agreements tied to imports.

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
“Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. World's richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Odisha.”
Why relevant

Documents domestic uranium deposits and mining locations, showing India also produces indigenous uranium.

How to extend

One can contrast reactors fueled by indigenous uranium versus reactors using imported fuel/technology to test whether safeguards correlate with fuel origin.

Statement analysis

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Statement 3
Does operation by a foreign enterprise versus a domestic enterprise determine whether an Indian nuclear reactor is placed 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: 5/5
“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 IAEA teams regularly inspect nuclear facilities to ensure civilian reactors are not used for military purposes, giving a general rule that civilian status triggers IAEA inspections.

How to extend

A student could combine this with knowledge of which plants are designated 'civilian' to judge whether operator nationality (foreign vs domestic) is a deciding factor.

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 gave India access to US fuel/technology but required allowing its civil nuclear reactors to be inspected by the IAEA, showing supplier/technology agreements can lead to safeguards.

How to extend

A student could check whether reactors using foreign-supplied technology or fuel were the ones specifically subject to IAEA inspection under such agreements.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Smiling Buddha > p. 703
Strength: 4/5
“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 CIRUS reactor's plutonium came from a Canadian-supplied reactor and that foreign supply led to international displeasure and suspension of assistance, suggesting foreign provision/supply creates external expectations or pressures related to oversight.

How to extend

A student might examine whether reactors built or supplied by foreign countries carried additional obligations or scrutiny (e.g., safeguards) compared with wholly indigenous ones.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Source: Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, March 2018 > p. 27
Strength: 3/5
“Thus, at present, nuclear energy is produced from eleven units located at six centres (Table 8.12). The new sites of nuclear power plants include Bargi or Chutka (M.P.), Haripur (W. Bengal), Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Kawada (Andhra Pradesh), Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Kumharia (Haryana), and Mithi-Verdi (Gujarat). The govt. of India on 17th May, 2017, cleared the building of ten new nuclear power plants to add 7,000 MW to India's power generation capacity. These nuclear power plants will be indigenous with a capacity 700 MW each. The nuclear reactors will make it easier to develop the domestic industry. Development of nuclear energy is imperative for the economic development of the country.”
Why relevant

States India planned new 'indigenous' nuclear plants, implying a distinction between indigenous (domestic) reactors and those involving foreign technology or assistance.

How to extend

A student could use this domestic/indigenous vs foreign-built distinction to investigate if 'indigenous' reactors were treated differently under IAEA arrangements than foreign-linked ones.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 1: National Income > Me Important Concepts Under National Income > p. 5
Strength: 3/5
“Domestic/Economic Territory It refers to the geographical territory administered by the Indian Government within which the person, goods and capital can circulate freely. Foreign embassies located in India are not a part of domestic/economic territory, whereas Indian embassies located abroad are a part of domestic/economic territory. Thus, domestic/economic territory also consists of the following: • Military establishments, consulates, embassies, etc., located in a foreign country. · Fishing vessels, ships, aircrafts, etc., operated by the residents of a country fall under the \oplus domestic territory even if these frequent the foreign geographic or political boundaries. For example, the revenues and profits of Air India are counted within India's GDP.”
Why relevant

Defines 'domestic/economic territory' as including assets operated by residents even if abroad, giving a rule about how 'domestic' is legally construed (operator/residency vs location).

How to extend

A student could apply this operator-based definition to ask whether safeguards follow the operator's nationality rather than the reactor's physical location or ownership.

Statement analysis

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Statement 4
Does ownership (state-owned versus privately-owned) determine whether an Indian nuclear reactor is placed 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: 5/5
“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 inspects nuclear facilities to ensure civilian reactors are not used for military purposes — emphasis on 'civilian' status as the inspection trigger.

How to extend

A student could infer that the civil/military purpose, not the owner, is the criterion and check whether Indian reactors under safeguards are classified as civilian.

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

Notes the Indo–US civilian nuclear agreement required India to allow its civil nuclear reactors to be inspected by the IAEA.

How to extend

One could use this example to test whether IAEA safeguards in India are tied to civil-use reactors (regardless of public or private ownership) by listing reactors covered by the agreement.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Growth of Public Sector > p. 88
Strength: 4/5
“government but also under the ownership of the different state governments. • (ii) The public sector owned by the central government of India extends over 75% of the total scenario, especially in steel, oil chemicals, minerals and metals, railways, and portion of shipping and civil aviation, and considerable proportion of banking, insurance, and financial services.• (iii) Generation and distribution of energy is, by and large, with the state governments, except the Centre has lately entered the field marginally. The State Electricity Boards are almost universally under public section.”
Why relevant

Explains that generation and distribution of energy in India is largely with state governments, implying many nuclear power assets may be publicly owned.

How to extend

A student could combine this with clues that safeguards target civilian reactors to ask whether most safeguarded Indian reactors are state-owned simply because most civil energy plants are state-owned.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Source: Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, March 2018 > p. 27
Strength: 4/5
“Thus, at present, nuclear energy is produced from eleven units located at six centres (Table 8.12). The new sites of nuclear power plants include Bargi or Chutka (M.P.), Haripur (W. Bengal), Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Kawada (Andhra Pradesh), Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Kumharia (Haryana), and Mithi-Verdi (Gujarat). The govt. of India on 17th May, 2017, cleared the building of ten new nuclear power plants to add 7,000 MW to India's power generation capacity. These nuclear power plants will be indigenous with a capacity 700 MW each. The nuclear reactors will make it easier to develop the domestic industry. Development of nuclear energy is imperative for the economic development of the country.”
Why relevant

Lists current and planned nuclear power plants and states the government cleared new plant construction, indicating active central government role in civil nuclear power.

How to extend

This supports checking whether plants put under safeguards correspond to government-built/operated civil plants, testing if ownership or civil role is the deciding factor.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > Table 9.13 Nuclear Power Plants in India > p. 26
Strength: 3/5
“(W. Bengal), Kawada (Seemandhra), Kumharia (Haryana) and Mithi Verdi near Bhavnagar Gujarat (Fig.9.6). Nuclear energy, like other sources of energy, also cause environmental deterioration. Te main disadvantage in this respect is that nuclear reactors produce radio-active wastes. According to environmentalists, the nuclear energy generation lead to more pollution. Nuclear plants are also opposed on moral grounds because of their close linkage with the development of nuclear weapons. In most of the developing and developed countries, the building of nuclear plants is opposed and obstructed by protest groups. About 25 per cent of the Europeans and 30 per cent of Japanese believe that nuclear plants are too dangerous to society and ecology.”
Why relevant

Highlights public concern linking nuclear plants with weapons development, reinforcing the importance of distinguishing civilian versus military uses when discussing oversight.

How to extend

A student might use this to explore whether safeguards are applied to alleviate such concerns about civilian plants, irrespective of ownership.

Statement analysis

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Pattern takeaway: UPSC focuses on the 'Structural Logic' of agreements, not just dates. If a policy creates two categories (Safeguarded vs. Non-Safeguarded), the exam will ask for the *basis* of that categorization.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Found in Spectrum (Modern History, Ch: Foreign Relations) and NCERT Class XII (Contemporary World Politics). The link between 'Imported Fuel' and 'Inspections' is the heart of the 123 Agreement.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Separation Plan' (2006). India agreed to separate Civil (Safeguarded) facilities from Military (Strategic) ones to gain access to the global nuclear market.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: 1. Safeguarded Reactors: RAPS (Rawatbhata), TAPS (Tarapur), KKNPP (Kudankulam). 2. Strategic Reactors: Dhruva (BARC), Kalpakkam (MAPS - some units). 3. India Specific Safeguards Agreement (ISSA). 4. The 'Additional Protocol' (ratified 2014). 5. NSG Waiver (2008).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying treaties, map the 'Trade-off'. India wanted Uranium (Option B); the World wanted Oversight (The Question). The answer lies in the intersection of what we needed (Imports) and what we gave (Safeguards).
How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

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Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 IAEA safeguards target civilian nuclear facilities
💡 The insight

IAEA inspections are aimed at ensuring civilian reactors are not diverted to military purposes.

High-yield for UPSC: understanding the mandate of the IAEA is central to questions on nuclear non-proliferation, international inspections, and India's civil nuclear engagements. It connects to international law, security studies, and diplomacy questions where India’s civilian/military nuclear distinction matters.

📚 Reading List :
  • Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > IAEA > p. 58
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 761
🔗 Anchor: "Does the type of nuclear fuel (uranium versus thorium) determine whether an Indi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 India–US civil nuclear deal and inspection commitments
💡 The insight

The Indo‑US civilian nuclear agreement required India to permit IAEA inspection of its civil nuclear reactors.

Important for foreign policy and contemporary history: this concept explains negotiated obligations, ties nuclear commerce to safeguards, and helps answer questions on strategic partnerships, NSG/IAEA processes, and domestic policy implications of international agreements.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 761
🔗 Anchor: "Does the type of nuclear fuel (uranium versus thorium) determine whether an Indi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Uranium vs thorium as distinct nuclear fuels and India's resource base
💡 The insight

India uses both uranium and thorium as nuclear fuels and possesses significant thorium-bearing monazite sands alongside uranium deposits.

Valuable for geography and energy security topics: knowing fuel types and their geographic distribution supports answers on India’s nuclear fuel strategy, indigenous resource dependence, and long-term energy planning. It links to resource geography, energy policy, and technological choices in the nuclear sector.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy > p. 26
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
🔗 Anchor: "Does the type of nuclear fuel (uranium versus thorium) determine whether an Indi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 IAEA mandate to inspect civilian nuclear facilities
💡 The insight

The IAEA's role includes inspecting civilian reactors to ensure they are not used for military purposes.

High-yield for polity and international relations: understanding the IAEA's inspection mandate explains international safeguards, non-proliferation diplomacy, and treaty-based verification mechanisms. It links to questions on global governance, arms control, and India’s international nuclear dealings.

📚 Reading List :
  • Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > IAEA > p. 58
🔗 Anchor: "Does the source of uranium (imported versus domestically produced) determine whe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Civil nuclear deals can condition fuel/technology supply on safeguards
💡 The insight

Access to foreign nuclear fuel and technology has in at least one case been tied to accepting IAEA inspections of civil reactors.

Important for contemporary polity and foreign policy topics: explains how bilateral agreements (e.g., nuclear cooperation) translate into commitments on inspections and non-proliferation. Useful for questions on India–US nuclear cooperation, nuclear diplomacy, and conditionality in international agreements.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 761
🔗 Anchor: "Does the source of uranium (imported versus domestically produced) determine whe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 India's domestic uranium resources and import dependence
💡 The insight

India has both domestic uranium deposits and reliance on external suppliers for uranium.

Relevant for topics on energy security and strategic autonomy: knowing domestic reserves vs import dependence helps explain policy choices in nuclear sourcing, international negotiations, and technology partnerships. Connects geography (mineral resources) with strategic foreign policy and energy planning questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > iii) nuclear Energy > p. 52
🔗 Anchor: "Does the source of uranium (imported versus domestically produced) determine whe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 IAEA safeguards and inspections
💡 The insight

The IAEA conducts inspections of nuclear facilities to verify that civilian reactors are not being used for military purposes.

High-yield for questions on international organisations and nuclear non‑proliferation; links to topics on global governance, verification mechanisms, and India’s international obligations. Mastering this helps answer questions about the role and limits of multilateral nuclear oversight.

📚 Reading List :
  • Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > IAEA > p. 58
🔗 Anchor: "Does operation by a foreign enterprise versus a domestic enterprise determine wh..."
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🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'India-Specific Safeguards Agreement' (ISSA) is unique because it is 'umbrella' based, not 'comprehensive' like NPT signatories. The next logical question is on the 'Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010', specifically Section 17(b) regarding supplier liability.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Legal Monopoly Hack: In India, Atomic Energy is a strict Central Government monopoly under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Private companies (Option D) and Foreign enterprises (Option C) are legally barred from operating reactors. This eliminates C and D instantly. Option A is weak because Thorium is experimental (Stage 3). Option B is the only viable administrative distinction.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS3 (Energy Security) + GS2 (IR): This distinction represents 'Strategic Autonomy'. We accept safeguards on imported fuel reactors to power the grid, but keep domestic fuel reactors outside to maintain a sovereign fissile material stockpile for the strategic (weapons) program.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2008 · Q60 Relevance score: 3.89

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: 3.89

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 ?

IAS · 2018 · Q33 Relevance score: 3.77

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

CDS-I · 2019 · Q81 Relevance score: 0.24

Which one of the following issues was included in the Indo-US Nuclear Agreement of 2007?

CDS-I · 2006 · Q14 Relevance score: 0.24

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 ?