US lifts sanctions on 3 Indian nuclear institutes including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Decision of the Joe Biden administration

US lifts sanctions on BARC, IGCAR and IRE

Washington – The US has lifted sanctions on three major Indian nuclear facilities, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. This will pave the way for the US to share civil nuclear technology with India. The announcement was made by the US Joe Biden administration in the last week of its term and a week after National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan’s visit to India. The US had imposed sanctions in 1998 due to the Pokhran nuclear tests and for not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

1. According to the information given by the ‘US Bureau of Industry and Security’ (BIS), apart from ‘Bhabha Atomic Research Centre’ (BARC), sanctions on ‘Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research’ (IGCAR) and ‘Indian Rare Earths’ (IRE) have also been lifted. All three institutions work under India’s Department of Atomic Energy and monitor the work being done in the field of atomic energy.

2. The US and India are committed to advancing peaceful nuclear cooperation, including relevant research and development activities, the BIS said.