3 Review(s)

A civil nuclear energy renaissance is underway at present. Governments worldwide are reconsidering the role of nuclear power for generation of electricity due to growing energy demand, pressures and obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and rising oil prices, among other things. Public and political opposition to nuclear power is also decreasing because of the growing awareness about its benefits. In 2005, India’s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and U.S. President, George W. Bush envisaged the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal to develop India’s civilian nuclear energy program to meet its growing energy demands in a cleaner and more efficient manner. The signing of the 123 Agreement (Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy) by India and U.S. in October 2008 is thus an epochal event despite uncertainties of the global future, permanently etching a mark on Indo-U.S. relations. The fruits of this Agreement are already evident with India having inked MOUs for nuclear reactors with France and Russia.