(a) whether the agreement for civil nuclear cooperation signed by India with Canada would effectively end the controversy over the CIRUS reactor;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether India is in an advanced stage of discussions regarding Civil Nuclear
Cooperation with South Korea;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the views of the various nations with whom India has entered into Nuclear Cooperation agreements on the need of a nuclear liability regime in India?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE), PMO,
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN):
(a) & (b) The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Canada signed an
agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy on 27 June 2010. This will
facilitate civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The Agreement has not yet
entered into force. The Government has decided to shut down the CIRUS reactor permanently
by the end of 2010.
(c) & (d) In the India-Republic of Korea Joint Statement: Towards a Strategic Partnership
issued on 25 January 2010, H.E. Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and
Prime Minister of India agreed to facilitate development of a framework for bilateral civil
nuclear cooperation.
Negotiations were held between India and ROK on 6-7 July 2010 in Mumbai on finalization of an
Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on civil nuclear cooperation.
(e) The expectations of nuclear suppliers from France, Russia, USA and other
countries are for an adequate liability regime in India covering bilateral nuclear
cooperation. Our civil nuclear cooperation agreements with countries like Russia and France
have specific provisions relating to civil nuclear liability.