Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Nuclear Threat Initiatives
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.251

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVES

- *251 SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state :

- (a) the safety ranking of India's nuclear power stations globally;
- (b) whether  the  Nuclear  Threat  Initiative,  a  non-Governmental  group  based  in Washington has pegged India's nuclear security practices at 23rd rank among 25 countries;
- (c) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government has constituted any team to study safety of nuclear power stations and nuclear material; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government for the safety of nuclear stations and materials in the country?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR,  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House

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## Government of India Department of Atomic Energy

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.251 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.05.2016 BY SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA REGARDING 'NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVES'

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- (a) Government  is  not  aware  of  any  such  global  safety  rankings  of  nuclear power   stations.
- (b) & (c)  In 2016, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), came out with another edition of an Index that it claims, assesses 24 countries with one kilogram or more of weapons-usable nuclear material on their contributions  towards  improved nuclear  materials  security.  India  was  placed  at  the  21 st position  on  this Index.  The  Government  of  India  does  not  agree  with  the  methodology adopted by the NTI, a non-Governmental organization.
- (d) and  based on their reports,
- Post Fukushima, the safety of Indian nuclear power plants against natural calamities has been independently reviewed by three Indian organisations adequate  safety  measures  have  been implemented. As  regards  security  of  nuclear  material,  in  order  to  devise  a  coordinated multi-agency  approach  to  deal  with  the  threat  of  individuals  or  group  of individuals acquiring nuclear or radioactive material for malicious purposes, India  has  set  up  at  the  national  level  an  institutional  mechanism  called  a Counter  Nuclear  Smuggling  Team.  The  team  has  representation  from concerned Ministries/ Departments/Agencies of the Government and meets regularly. It also conducts table top exercises for effective and coordinated response  to  threats  involving  use  of  nuclear  and  radioactive  material  for

malicious purposes.

- (e) For  the  safety  of  nuclear  power  plants,  right  at  the  design  stage  itself, rigorous review of safety precautions to be taken are assessed and safety measures are incorporated. In addition, AERB while renewing licenses for nuclear  power  plants  periodically  assesses  the  implementation  of  safety features and operational safety associated within the nuclear power plants.

With  regard  to  Security  of  nuclear  materials,  India  is  a  party  to  the International  Atomic  Energy  Agency's  (IAEA)  Convention  on  Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM),  its  2005  Amendment  and International  Convention  on  Suppression  of  Acts  of  Nuclear  Terrorism (ICSANT). India's national implementation of physical protection measures for nuclear materials and  facilities takes into account the guidance contained in IAEA's Nuclear Security Series documents. Further, to ensure adherence to the regulatory requirements, India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has developed a number of guideline documents for regulation of (i) nuclear materials and nuclear facilities and (ii) radiation sources and radiation facilities and also during transport of these materials. India's export controls list and guidelines have been harmonized with those of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). India fully supports the implementation of  UNSC  Council  Resolution  1540  dealing  with  measures  to  prevent terrorists gaining access to Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Institutionally,  the  security  of  nuclear  and  radiological  material  in  India  is ensured through robust oversight by AERB, which deploys a large pool of highly trained and specialised manpower for this purpose. At the international  front,  India  has  contributed  actively  to  the  Nuclear  Security Summit process and has pledged a further contribution of US$ 1 million to the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund. India has also set up of a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) for training and capacity building.

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