PM Narendra Modi’s Central Asia visit has delivered a major boost to India-Uzbekistan relations, with the two countries establishing a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies to India.

The nuclear energy agreement is significant as India continues to expand its civilian nuclear power capacity and seeks reliable, diversified sources of nuclear fuel. Uzbekistan is one of the world’s major uranium producers, making the arrangement an important addition to India’s long-term energy strategy.

During PM Modi’s visit, India and Uzbekistan also elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening the way for deeper cooperation across strategic, economic, technological and energy sectors.

The two sides have also strengthened their institutional mechanisms, including a coordination council led by foreign ministers and an upgraded joint commission at ministerial level. A joint business summit has also been established to accelerate commercial engagement.

Bilateral trade has crossed the $1 billion mark, with both countries setting an ambitious target of $5 billion by 2030.

The visit also saw three sister-city and sister-state arrangements being formalised. India has invited an Uzbek delegation to study the development and technology behind GIFT City in Gujarat, while both sides look to explore cooperation around major projects such as New Tashkent.

Watch this report for the latest updates on the India-Uzbekistan uranium agreement, PM Modi’s Central Asia visit, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, nuclear energy cooperation, trade expansion and the growing strategic relationship between New Delhi and Tashkent.

India Secures Critical Uranium Supply From Uzbekistan | Major Nuclear Energy Boost Under PM Modi

The Indian government is expected to allow private companies to mine, import, and process uranium, ending decades-old state monopoly in the country’s nuclear sector. The move is aimed at boosting the industry and attracting billions of dollars in investments, enhancing nuclear power production in India. If the government is able to meet its expansion goals, the nuclear sector will be able to provide five per cent of the country’s total power requirements.&nbsp;Reuters reported, citing two government sources, that the move is being taken “to help meet a surge in demand for nuclear fuel as it expands nuclear power production”. The government is planning to introduce a regulatory framework that would allow private Indian firms to mine, import, and process uranium. The policy is likely to be announced in the current fiscal year. The report added that the proposed policy will also allow private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants.&nbsp;According to the report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is planning to expand the nuclear power production capacity of the country by 12 times by 2047. It added that the requirements for allowing minority stakes in power plants to foreign investors are also being relaxed.&nbsp;Until now, the state has had control over the uranium sector over concerns of possible misuse of nuclear material, radiation safety and strategic security. Although the government will retain its control over reprocessing spent uranium fuel and managing plutonium waste, as per the global standard.&nbsp;Currently, countries including the United States, Canada and South Africa allow private companies to mine and process uranium.India’s uranium supply&nbsp;India has about 76,000 tonnes of uranium, which is sufficient to fuel 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power for 30 years, according to data from the government. However, sources told Reuters that domestic resources would only meet about 25 per cent of the projected increase. The rest of the requirement would have to be imported, and the country would need to expand its processing capacity.&nbsp;While announcing the budget on February 1, the government revealed plans to open up the sector. However, they did not provide more details. Following this, some big conglomerates of India have subsequently started drawing up investment plans. While analysts have suggested that amending the legislation could be complex.

The policy is likely to be announced in the current fiscal year. The proposed policy will also allow private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants.

The Indian government is expected to allow private companies to mine, import, and process uranium, ending decades-old state monopoly in the country’s nuclear sector. The move is aimed at boosting the industry and attracting billions of dollars in investments, enhancing nuclear power production in India. If the government is able to meet its expansion goals, the nuclear sector will be able to provide five per cent of the country’s total power requirements. Reuters reported, citing two government sources, that the move is being taken “to help meet a surge in demand for nuclear fuel as it expands nuclear power production”. The government is planning to introduce a regulatory framework that would allow private Indian firms to mine, import, and process uranium. The policy is likely to be announced in the current fiscal year. The report added that the proposed policy will also allow private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants. According to the report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is planning to expand the nuclear power production capacity of the country by 12 times by 2047. It added that the requirements for allowing minority stakes in power plants to foreign investors are also being relaxed. Until now, the state has had control over the uranium sector over concerns of possible misuse of nuclear material, radiation safety and strategic security. Although the government will retain its control over reprocessing spent uranium fuel and managing plutonium waste, as per the global standard. Currently, countries including the United States, Canada and South Africa allow private companies to mine and process uranium. India’s uranium supply India has about 76,000 tonnes of uranium, which is sufficient to fuel 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power for 30 years, according to data from the government. However, sources told Reuters that domestic resources would only meet about 25 per cent of the projected increase. The rest of the requirement would have to be imported, and the country would need to expand its processing capacity. While announcing the budget on February 1, the government revealed plans to open up the sector. However, they did not provide more details. Following this, some big conglomerates of India have subsequently started drawing up investment plans. While analysts have suggested that amending the legislation could be complex.

The policy is likely to be announced in the current fiscal year. The proposed policy will also allow private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants.

India to allow private firms to mine and import uranium? Here’s what report reveals about country’s plan on nuclear power expansion

Here are the nuclear capabilities possessed by India and Pakistan

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), China and Pakistan possess more nuclear warheads than India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-open-nuclear-disarmament-talks-with-us-amid-china-cloud-304668">Also Read:&nbsp;Russia to open nuclear disarmament talks with US amid China cloud</a>

The think tank in a report said that India which conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 has 150 warheads and Pakistan which conducted its nuclear tests in 1998 has 160 warheads.

China which had conducted its tests a decade earlier than India has 320 warheads, the report informed.

The United States and Russia dominate the list with 5,800 and 6,375 warheads respectively which includes other warheads as well.

"At the start of 2020, nine states — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea - possessed approximately 13,400 nuclear weapons, of which 3,720 were deployed with operational forces," the report maintained.

India and Pakistan are also thought to be increasing the size of their arsenals, the report claimed while stressing that "China is in the&nbsp;middle of significant modernization and expansion of its nuclear arsenal".

"India is expanding the size of its nuclear weapon stockpile as well as its infrastructure for producing nuclear warheads," the report said.

"India is also increasing its uranium enrichment capabilities and continues to produce enriched uranium at the expanded gas centrifuge facility at the Rattehalli Rare Materials Plant near Mysore, Karnataka, for highly enriched uranium (HEU) for use as naval reactor fuel," the report claimed.

The SIPRI report claims that India's IAF has assigned "48 nuclear bombs" to its aircraft and reportedly certified its Mirage 2000H fighter-bombers for delivery of nuclear gravity bombs and "widely speculated that the IAF’s Jaguar IS fighter bombers may also have a nuclear delivery role."

In sea-based capability, the report estimates that 12 nuclear warheads have been delivered for potential deployment by the Arihant nuclear submaine&nbsp;with more in production. 
&nbsp;

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), China and Pakistan possess more nuclear warheads than India. Also Read: Russia to open nuclear disarmament talks with US amid China cloud The think tank in a report said that India which conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 has 150 warheads and Pakistan which conducted its nuclear tests in 1998 has 160 warheads.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), China and Pakistan possess more nuclear warheads than India. Also Read: Russia to open nuclear disarmament talks with US amid China cloud The think tank in a report said that India which conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 has 150 warheads and Pakistan which conducted its nuclear tests in 1998 has 160 warheads. China which had conducted its tests a decade earlier than India has 320 warheads, the report informed. The United States and Russia dominate the list with 5,800 and 6,375 warheads respectively which includes other warheads as well. "At the start of 2020, nine states — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea - possessed approximately 13,400 nuclear weapons, of which 3,720 were deployed with operational forces," the report maintained. India and Pakistan are also thought to be increasing the size of their arsenals, the report claimed while stressing that "China is in the middle of significant modernization and expansion of its nuclear arsenal". "India is expanding the size of its nuclear weapon stockpile as well as its infrastructure for producing nuclear warheads," the report said. "India is also increasing its uranium enrichment capabilities and continues to produce enriched uranium at the expanded gas centrifuge facility at the Rattehalli Rare Materials Plant near Mysore, Karnataka, for highly enriched uranium (HEU) for use as naval reactor fuel," the report claimed. The SIPRI report claims that India's IAF has assigned "48 nuclear bombs" to its aircraft and reportedly certified its Mirage 2000H fighter-bombers for delivery of nuclear gravity bombs and "widely speculated that the IAF’s Jaguar IS fighter bombers may also have a nuclear delivery role." In sea-based capability, the report estimates that 12 nuclear warheads have been delivered for potential deployment by the Arihant nuclear submaine with more in production.

Pakistan, China have more nuclear warheads than India: SIPRI