Every one of the 34 MTCR members prior to India's joining today are also members of the 48-nation NSG. Jaishankar receives the Missile Technology Control Regime membership papers from French ambassador-designate Alexandre Ziegler in Delhi on Monday. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar on Monday accepted papers that formally recognise India as the 35th member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), one of a quartet of export control clubs New Delhi has eyed for almost a decade now. Beijing is holding up New Delhi's membership in the NSG, and at least eight other countries have sought criteria for India to join without signing the non-proliferation treaty. Joining the Australia Group would enable India to participate in framing rules to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, a concern in volatile South Asia.

Source: The Telegraph June 27, 2016 21:45 UTC