International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance

Why in news?

Recently International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said that there has been no radiation leak from any nuclear facility in Pakistan after the escalated military engagement with India.

• IAEA – It is a global nuclear watchdog organization.
• Established in – 1957
• Origin – It is proposed by U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in his “Atoms for Peace” speech (1953).
• Headquarters – Vienna, Austria.
• Members – 178 countries
• Motto – Atoms for Peace and Development
• Function – It monitors nuclear facilities and activities worldwide and promote peaceful nuclear use & prevent military use.
• Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) – It is established in 2009 by IAEA for coordinating response to radiation incidents.
• IAEA Safeguards – The legal agreements formed to verify that nuclear material is not diverted for military use and there are three types of safeguards agreements,
  • Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) – With non-nuclear-weapon NPT states. (India is not a member)

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a treaty that signatories agreed not to develop or acquire nuclear weapon except U.S, Russia, U.K, France, and China.

• • Voluntary Offer Agreement (VOA) – With nuclear-weapon NPT states (U.S, Russia, U.K, France, and China).
  • Item-specific Agreement – With non-NPT states e.g., India, Pakistan, Israel (India is a member).
  • They are nuclear weapon states but haven’t signed NPT.
• Additional Protocol (AP) – It strengthens IAEA's inspection rights on its member countries.
• India ratified AP in 2014 for its civilian nuclear facilities.

Quick Facts

Reference

The Indian Express| No radiation leak in any nuclear facility in Pakistan