1) International Legal Instruments: India is party to all the 13
universal instruments accepted as benchmarks for a State’s commitment to combat
international terrorism. India is party to the Convention on the Physical
Protection of Nuclear Material and is amongst the few countries which have also
ratified the 2005 amendment to the Convention. India looks forward to early
entry into force of the 2005 Amendment. India is also Party to the
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
India supports efforts for promoting the universality of these two Conventions.
2) International Atomic Energy
Agency: India has
consistently supported IAEA’s central role in facilitating national efforts to
strengthen nuclear security and in fostering effective international
cooperation. India is a member of the IAEA Commission on Nuclear Safety
Standards and the Advisory Group on Nuclear Security. India has been actively
involved in the preparation of the Nuclear Security Series documents produced
by the IAEA. India has actively contributed to IAEA’s Action Plans on Nuclear
Security, including third plan for 2010-2013. India as a partner to the IAEA-US
Regional Radiological Security Partnership (RRSP) has been organizing international
training courses in India under the aegis of the IAEA. India offered assistance
through the IAEA for search and recovery of orphan radioactive sources in
countries which were unable to effectively deal with them and had sought such
assistance. India commends the Agency’s efforts to develop a Nuclear Security
Information Portal and its efforts in developing a comprehensive set of
guidance documents under the Nuclear Security Series.
We support the fifth revision of the
recommendations contained in INFCIRC/225. We look forward to sustainable Agency
activities in the area of nuclear security training and education and
appreciate the assistance provided by the Agency to educational institutions in
the area of Nuclear Security. India is a participant in the IAEA’s Illicit
Trafficking Database (ITDB), which was established in 1995 and disseminates
information on confirmed reports about illicit trafficking and other
unauthorized activities and events involving nuclear radioactive materials to
the States. India has been supportive of the 2003 IAEA Code of Conduct on the
Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and voluntarily adopted its
provisions. India has also conducted 9 regional training seminars on nuclear
security in cooperation with the IAEA. Conclusion of Practical Arrangements
between GCNEP and the IAEA would reinforce India’s cooperation with the Agency.
3) UN and other mechanisms: Since 2002, India has piloted a
resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on measures to prevent
terrorists gaining access to Weapons of Mass Destruction. This resolution has
been adopted by the General Assembly by consensus. India fully supports the
implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, its
extension resolution 1977, and the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism
Strategy. India is also a party to Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism and has participated in its working groups on nuclear detection,
nuclear forensics and response and mitigation. While nuclear security is being
addressed at different foras, there is need to ensure
that these efforts are mutually complementary and reinforce the related
activities of the IAEA. We also cooperate with the Interpol’s Radiological and
Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Unit and the World Customs Organization. India
participated in the High Level Meeting called by the UN Secretary General on
Nuclear Safety and Security on 22 September 2011.
4) National legal framework: The Indian Atomic Energy Act 1962
provides the legal framework for securing nuclear materials and facilities.
Amendments to this Act are under consideration to further strengthen the legal
basis for nuclear security measures. In June 2005, India enacted the Weapons of
Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful
Activities) Act, 2005. Updating of the export control lists and related
regulations are undertaken as a continuous ongoing process. India has adhered
to NSG Guidelines and has expressed interest in full membership of the NSG and
other international export control regimes. India is taking a number of
measures to strengthen nuclear security. The Government has introduced a bill
in Parliament for the establishment of an independent Nuclear Safety Regulatory
Authority which will also enhance oversight of nuclear security and strengthen
synergy between safety and security.
5) Reducing Nuclear Material: With regard to minimization of use
of civilian HEU, the enriched uranium based fuel in the APSARA reactor was
placed in a safeguarded facility in December 2010. APSARA will use indigenous
fuel which is not high enriched uranium. However, there is a growing demand for
large-scale production of isotopes for a range of applications- healthcare,
industry, food and agriculture. India’s three stage nuclear programme
is based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle, the principle of ‘reprocess-to-reuse’
and ensuring control over nuclear material at all stages. It is also important
that technology is continually upgraded to develop nuclear systems that are
intrinsically safe, secure and proliferation resistant. We have recently
developed an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor based on Low Enriched Uranium and
thorium with new safety and proliferation-resistant features.
6) International Cooperation: India has close cooperation with
the IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy
(PACT). India has signed tripartite Agreements with IAEA and Sri Lanka and
Namibia to donate our indigenously developed Cobalt teletherapy
machine (Bhabhatron II) to these two countries as a
step towards affordable treatment of Cancer. A similar machine was donated to
Vietnam in 2008.
7) Global Centre for Nuclear Energy
Partnership (GCNEP): At
the first Nuclear Security Summit, India announced that it would establish a
Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership. We visualize this to be a state
of the art facility based on international participation from the IAEA and
other interested foreign partners. (Cooperation MOUs/Practical Arrangements
have been concluded with some countries and the IAEA). To begin with, the
Centre will consist of four Schools dealing with Advanced Nuclear Energy System
Studies, Nuclear Security, Radiation Safety, and the application of
Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology in the areas of healthcare, agriculture
and food. The Centre will conduct research and development of design systems
that are intrinsically safe, secure, proliferation resistant and sustainable,
as we believe such technological solutions will strengthen nuclear security in
the long run. The Centre will carry out research and development in radiation
monitoring including development of detectors and nuclear emergency management.
The Centre will also have state of the art training facilities for Indian and
international participants and research by Indian and visiting international
scientists. We are interested in development and conduct of courses in
association with interested countries and the IAEA. An “off-campus” training
course on Physical Protection was organized under GCNEP auspices in November
2011 for 25 participants, including 17 foreign nationals. Further courses
planned for 2012 include: Prevention, Preparedness and Reponses involving
malicious acts with radioactive materials, Medical Management, Safeguard
Practices etc.
8) Nuclear Security Summit Process: India supports implementation of
the Washington Summit Communiqué and Work Plan. India contributed to the NSS
process, including by hosting a meeting of the Sherpas
in New Delhi 16-17 January 2012
