India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

Question: Recently India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a full member. India joined as the-
(a) 34th Member
(b) 35th Member
(c) 40th Member
(d) 42nd Member
Ans: (b)
Related facts:

  • On 27 June 2016 India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a full member at a ceremony in South Block, attended by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and diplomats from the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg missions.
  • India become the 35th member of the Regime.
  • The membership will strengthen the international efforts to prevent proliferation of delivery systems (ballistic missiles or unmanned aircraft) capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
  • MTCR membership will now enable India to buy high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.
  • The aim of the MTCR is to restrict the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilogramme payload for at least 300 kilometres, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
  • The annual plenary meeting of the MTCR will be held in the Republic of Korea in October 2016.
  • The MTCR was originally established in 1987 by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  • Presently, the number of MTCR partners has increased to a total of thirty-five countries, all of which have equal standing within the Regime.

Reference:
http://www.mtcr.info/english/160627-India.pdf
http://www.newsonair.com/full_news.asp?top3=top