International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Latest News

The Indian Defence Minister recently asserted that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be brought under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure global nuclear security.

About the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the world’s leading intergovernmental organisation for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.
• It promotes the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, especially in compliance with global non-proliferation norms.
• The IAEA Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 and came into force on 29 July 1957.
• The IAEA headquarters is located in Vienna, Austria.
• The agency currently has 178 member states, reflecting its wide international mandate and credibility.

IAEA’s Legal Status and Global Role

• The IAEA is an autonomous organization within the United Nations system.
• It reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
• It is popularly referred to as the “Atoms for Peace and Development” organization within the UN framework.
• Its primary goal is to ensure that nuclear energy is not diverted for weapons purposes.

Institutional Structure of the IAEA

• The General Conference, composed of all member states, meets annually to approve budgets and set general policy directions.
• The Board of Governors, comprising 35 members, meets about five times a year to:
  • Approve safeguards agreements,
  • Carry out statutory functions, and
  • Appoint the Director General.
• The Secretariat, led by the Director General, handles the IAEA’s daily operations.

Key Functions of the IAEA

• The IAEA works to ensure that nuclear technology is used solely for peaceful purposes.
• It applies comprehensive nuclear safeguards, including:
  • Monitoring,
  • On-site inspections,
  • Information analysis, and
  • Other techniques to verify peaceful use.
• These safeguards serve as a first line of defense under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• The IAEA helps enhance capacity at the national, regional, and international levels to respond to nuclear or radiological emergencies.
• It facilitates scientific cooperation and technical exchange among its member states.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) FAQs

Q1: What is the primary objective of the IAEA?
Ans: The IAEA promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevents its use for military purposes, including nuclear weapons.

Q2: When and where was the IAEA established?
Ans: The IAEA was established in 1957 and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Source: TH

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