Missile Technology Control Regime

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a multilateral export control regime whose members have an informal political understanding to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. India became a member of the MTCR in 2016. In this article, you can read all about the MTCR for the civil services exam.

The Missile Technology Control Regime was started in 1987 by the G-7 industrialized countries namely, the USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy. It was started to check the proliferation of unmanned delivery systems for nuclear weapons (particularly systems that could carry a payload of 500 kg to a range of 300 km).

There are a total of 35 members of the Missile Technology Regime (MTCR). India is one of its members. Given below is the list of countries that are a member of this Regime, along with the year of their association with MTCR:

Candidates preparing for the upcoming UPSC 2021 exam must study this topic well and along with this must visit the below mentioned International bodies that are responsible for the transfer and export of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, dual-use equipment and technology:

1. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
2. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
3. Australia Group
4. Wassenaar Arrangement 

MTCR Objectives

1. It is not a legally binding treaty on the members. It is only an informal political understanding.
2. Currently, there are 35 members in the regime including India. China is not a member of the regime.
3. Every member is supposed to establish national export control policies for ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, space launch vehicles, drones, remotely piloted vehicles, sounding rockets, and underlying components and technologies.
4. Every member should look into the following five factors while deciding on a possible export of controlled items:
   1. Whether the intended recipient is pursuing or has ambitions for acquiring weapons of mass destruction;
   2. The capabilities and purposes of the intended recipient’s space and missile programs;
   3. The potential contribution the transfer could make to the recipient’s development of delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction;
   4. The credibility of the recipient’s stated purpose for the purchase; and
   5. If the potential transfer conflicts with any multilateral treaty.

MTCR and India

India applied for a membership to the MTCR in June 2015. India was supported by the USA and France in its application. Given below are the benefits of the Missile Technology Control Regime:

1. India’s space program will get a fillip as ISRO will now have access to restricted high-end technologies for developing its cryogenic engines.
2. India’s arms exports will be enhanced as now, India can export BrahMos to Vietnam and other nations.
3. This will help India procure Israel’s Arrow II missile, which will help develop India’s ballistic missile system.
4. India can buy surveillance drones from the US.
5. This will be a boost to the ‘Make in India’ program.

For details regarding other Government exams, candidates can visit the linked article.

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