NSG Norms: Critical Issues and Criteria

Nuclear Suppliers Group {NSG), once created in response to the Indian nuclear weapons tests in 1974, emerged as one of the significant cartel particularly in the South Asian context. One of the interesting aspects with regard to the NSG is that it includes all recognized nuclear weapons states that matter much when it comes to the politics of the NSG amongst its members. The NSG's emergence is significant because of its revised provisions urging both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states to be party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to prevent the transfer of nuclear technology to states that are not party to the NPT. The NSG urges states to abide by the provisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Although the NSG is a cartel not legally binding upon the states, it is indeed casting its influence on both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states party to the NPT. Therefore, it also influences nuclear weapons states outside the NPT to eventually secure the benefits of the NSG while becoming party to the NPT. This article talks about the challenges that the NSG confronts and provides options to strengthen the prospects of the emerging cartel group particularly with reference to the South Asian region.