Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
Washington: The United States has removed three prominent Indian nuclear entities—the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, and Indian Rare Earths—from its export control list, a move that will ease restrictions on the export of specified goods from US companies to these organizations.
The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the decision on Wednesday, emphasizing that the removals aim to "support US foreign policy objectives" by enhancing cooperation in advanced energy fields, including joint research and development. This is part of broader efforts to foster shared energy security goals between the two nations.
The BIS added that the removal of these entities from the list underscores the strengthening of US-India relations in science and technology, particularly in peaceful nuclear cooperation. The partnership has seen significant progress in recent years, benefiting both countries and their global partners.
Matthew Borman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, stated that the removal of these entities will facilitate closer collaboration between the US and India in securing more resilient critical minerals and clean energy supply chains. He also highlighted that this move aligns with the strategic goals of the US-India partnership.
The three Indian entities had been placed on the Entity List following India’s nuclear tests in May 1998. However, a number of Indian organizations were removed from the list during the Obama administration in 2015, including Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) and several subordinates of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
In 2010, during President Obama’s first visit to India, some Indian organizations were also taken off the list.
On the same day, the BIS added 11 Chinese organizations to the Entity List. These additions were largely related to China’s military modernization, including the development of advanced artificial intelligence technologies and lithography technology for advanced-node fabrication, which is crucial for the production of advanced integrated circuits for military use.
With IANS inputs