CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -While a majority of the 48-member group backed India’s membership, China along with New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria were opposed to India’s admission.

Detailed explanation-2: -The current guidelines of NSG state that a non-NPT state cannot become a member of NSG, which keeps India out of the group. India repudiated the NPT because the NPT defines nuclear weapons states as those that tested devices before 1967, and as per the definition, India cannot be designated as a nuclear-weapon state.

Detailed explanation-3: -Joining the NSG will give India better access to low-cost, clean nuclear energy–important for its economic growth. It will allow India to cut its emissions and reduce air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Detailed explanation-4: -On 6 September 2008, at an NSG meeting in Vienna, India was granted a waiver from the NSG guidelines that require comprehensive international safeguards as a condition of nuclear trade.