India today said it continues to engage with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for support for an early decision on the country's bid for membership of the grouping.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in Rajya Sabha that the US has publicly reaffirmed its support for India's entry into the NSG.
"The government continues to engage with members of the NSG, at the appropriate levels, for support for an early decision on India's membership by the group," he said, replying to a question.
The 48-member NSG is an elite club of countries that deals with the trade in nuclear technology and fissile materials besides contributing to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
China has been stridently opposing India's NSG bid primarily on the grounds that New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Its opposition has made India's entry into the group difficult as the NSG works on the principle of consensus.
Mr Muraleedharan also said the government has been according the "highest priority" to advance the UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms, including India's candidature for permanent membership in a "reformed Security Council".
"India is actively engaged in the ongoing inter-governmental negotiations on the UNSC reform at the UN and has been working with other reform-oriented countries through its membership of the G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) and the L.69 Group," he said.
The L.69 is a cross-regional grouping of developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
"The US has expressed public support to India's candidature for permanent membership in an expanded UNSC," the minister said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
US Reaffirms Support For India's Entry In Crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group US Reaffirms Support For India's Bid In UN Security Council, Nuke-Club NSG 6,000 Indians Have Been Evacuated From Ukraine So Far: Junior Foreign Minister India A "Cyber Adversary", Says Trudeau Government, New Delhi Shreds Claim 'Will Return With...': Swati Maliwal Pours Dirty Water Outside Atishi's Home Woman Strips At Iran University To Protest Strict Dress Code: Reports The Impact Of The World's Richest Man On US Democracy GATE 2025: Application Correction Deadline Extended, Details Here Fire Breaks Out At Factory In Delhi's Alipur, 34 Fire Tenders Rushed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.