Big Boost For India As US Lifts Decades-Old Restrictions On 3 Indian Nuclear Entities

New Delhi, India: In a major development aimed at strengthening US-India relations, the United States Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has removed three Indian entities from its restrictive Entity List. The entities include Indian Rare Earths Limited, the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center (IGCAR), and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). 

The US Department of Commerce described this move as a step toward “supporting US foreign policy objectives” by eliminating barriers to advanced energy cooperation. 

“This decision underscores the United States’ commitment to deepening its energy partnership with India,” said an official from the US Department of Commerce. “It also aligns with the Biden administration's goal of fostering resilient and sustainable clean energy supply chains.”

The announcement follows a formal declaration made last week by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during his visit to New Delhi. 

Sullivan acknowledged the vision for civil nuclear cooperation first laid out by former US President George W. Bush and former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh nearly two decades ago. 

While the landmark 2007 US-India nuclear agreement opened the door for civilian nuclear technology trade, its full potential has yet to be realized.

The US Department of Commerce also announced the addition of 11 Chinese organizations to its Entity List, citing activities detrimental to US national security and foreign policy. 

The removal of Indian entities from the Entity List is expected to pave the way for advanced US nuclear reactor technology exports to India, helping the country meet its growing energy demands. 

Negotiations for such exports have been ongoing since the 2007 nuclear deal.