August 30, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in India are in favour of their government striking a deal on nuclear capabilities with the United States, according to a poll by Cfore published in Outlook Magazine. 52 per cent of respondents support the bi-national agreement, while 21 per cent oppose it.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in India are in favour of their government striking a deal on nuclear capabilities with the United States, according to a poll by Cfore published in Outlook Magazine. 52 per cent of respondents support the bi-national agreement, while 21 per cent oppose it.

In 1974, India became the world's sixth nuclear power. Before the start of 2005, seven countries—Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States—had acknowledged possessing nuclear arsenals. Under the "strategic ambiguity" policy, Israel has refused to publicly discuss its purported nuclear capabilities.

In 1998, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on India for the underground detonation of three nuclear devices. India and Pakistan maintain a tense relationship that the international community fears could spark a nuclear battle.

In March 2006, India and the U.S. reached a deal that ended the sanctions against India's nuclear capabilities for civil use. India opened most of its reactors to international inspectors, but the military are still entitled to maintain control of some of them with no external supervision. The bi-national agreement has not yet been finalized.

Earlier this month, four communist parties belonging to the Left Front (LF)—which supports the administration led by the India National Congress (INC)—refused to back the nuclear deal between India and the United States, which had been sponsored by Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. The agreement includes a non-binding clause directing the U.S. president to determine whether India is cooperating with American efforts to confront Iran about its nuclear program. This clause is regarded by critics as a sign that Washington will seek to directly influence India's foreign policy.

On Aug. 13, Singh defended the agreement during in a speech to Parliament, claiming it represents "another step in our journey to regain our due place in global councils."

Polling Data

Do you support the nuclear deal between India and the United States?

	All	Urban	Rural
Yes	52%	63%	25%
No	21%	24%	15%
Can't say	27%	13%	60%

Source: Centre for Forecasting and Research (Cfore) / Outlook
Methodology: Interviews with 924 Indian adults in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, as well as adjoining rural areas, conducted on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, 2007. No margin of error was provided.