India admitted as 43rd member of Australian Group.

TNPSC Current Affairs - January 2018 by TNPSC Guru

India admitted as 43^rd member of Australian Group which aims to prevent development and acquisition of chemical and biological weapons, this helps India to move an inch closer to join the Nuclear Supplier group.

About Australian Group. 

• The Australian Group is one of the Multilateral Export Control Regime Group which established in 1985 with the aim to help the member countries to ensure the exports do not contribute to the development of Chemical or Biological Weapon.
• This group was formed after the use of Chemical Weapons in Iraq in 1984.It has now 43 member including India.
• India’s Admission to Australian Group will further boost India’s non-proliferation credential and will get access to high technologies for its defence and space programmes. It also helps India’s chances of joining NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group).
• The other 3 Multilateral Export Control regime are The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Wassenaar Arragnement, The Missile Technology Control Regime.
• In December 2017 India became member of Wassenaar Arrangement. Also in July 2016 India formally become member of Missile Technology Control Regime(MTCR), which is similar to Wassenaar arrangement and Australian Group.