IAEA - India begin 'additional protocol' talks in Vienna today

28 July 2008

India is scheduled to commence consultations in Vienna with the international Atomic energy Association from today to draft a template of an India-specific Additional Protocol for inspection of its civilian nuclear power plants.

The IAEA board of governors is meeting on 1 August to discuss the India-specific safeguards agreement.

India will begin its mandatory consultation process on the Additional Protocol with IAEA, in accordance with the Indo-US joint statement on civil nuclear cooperation of 18 July 2005. The additional protocol will be instrumental in enabling the IAEA to carry out its supervisory mandate.

According to Anil Kakodkar, chairman, Atomic Energy Commission,  Indian negotiators will work out details on a template of the additional protocol, which will be in addition to the India-specific safeguards agreement, said, adding that the details of the Additional Protocol would be unique to India.

IAEA has two templates of additional protocols - one for nuclear weapons countries (P-5) and the other for non-nuclear weapon states.

Additional Protocol or the Model Protocol of IAEA INFCIR 540 is additional to the agreement(s) between NPT state(s) and the IAEA for having safeguards agreement in order to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the safeguards system as a contribution to global nuclear non-proliferation objectives.