INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL, 2008 - Ending India's Nuclear Pariah Status

The Indo-US nuclear deal saw the US break ranks with the gatekeepers of nuclear technology to admit India into the global nuclear trade. It led to closer strategic ties with Washington

- BY PRADIP R. SAGAR

The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, signed in 2008, marked a transformative moment in India's diplomatic and strategic history. Also known as the 123 Agreement, it not only signified a new era in India-US relations but also had profound implications for India's energy and technological ambitions. The deal sought to undo India's isolation from international nuclear trade and the global sanctions it faced after it conducted nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. Despite restrictions, India refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), asserting that it was discriminatory. However, India maintained an impeccable record in non-proliferation and developed a robust indigenous nuclear programme.