Daily Mains Practice Answer 14-07-2026

Q. Being a non-signatory to the NPT, India has signed the ‘administrative arrangements’ for uranium supplies with Australia. Evaluate the importance of this agreement and how it contributes to India’s clean energy transition. (250 words, 15 marks)

Introduction:

Mention about - India-Australia ‘administrative arrangements’ for uranium supplies under the Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, 2015.

Main Body

Importance of the agreement

• Strengthen India Australia partnership
• Ensures India’s long-term fuel security - Australia holds more than a quarter of the global uranium reserves.
• Allows private sector participation – aligns with SHANTI Act (2025).
• Supports India’s nuclear programme
• Reduces overdependence on imports & enables diversifying suppliers - Australia 4^th largest uranium producer, after Kazakhstan, Canada, and Namibia.
• Built diplomatic trust - India being a non-signatory to the NPT, Australia’s willingness to supply uranium reflects trust.

Contribution to India’s clean energy

• Supports net zero target – Net zero by 2070, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Facilitates decarbonization
• Complements renewable energy
• Enhances energy security – By diversifying uranium imports.
• Getting new nuclear technologies – leads to capacity expansion.
• Enables meeting the growing electricity demand.

Conclusion:

Mention - Like India’s nuclear energy target & interlink this agreement with the target and capacity expansion in a progressive manner. India has set a target of 1,000 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047.