The Australia Group
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The Australia Group is an informal forum of countries that seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.
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Coordination among participant countries of Australia Group helps them to fulfil their obligations under Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to the fullest extent possible.
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It was established in 1985 and presently has 43 members.
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It was established after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984
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India has become 43rd member of this group.
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China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea are not its members.
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The name comes from Australia’s initiative to create the group. Australia manages the secretariat
Significance of India’s membership:
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India is now part of three of the four key export control groups in world dealing with non-proliferation.
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The inclusion will help to raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation, though it is not signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
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It will help in acquiring critical technologies.
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India is first South Asian nation to become its full-time member of Australia Group.
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It is also expected to strengthen India’s bid to enter 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).