Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, is playing pivotal role in formulation of Indian Standards in almost sectors of Indian economy since its inception in 1947. One of the major areas of activities involves development of Indian Standards on ‘Applications of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Applications’ through its national committee, CHD 30.
BIS is the founder member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and also an active member of the International Committee ‘ISO/TC 85Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Technologies and Radiological Protection’, which deals with standardisation for peaceful applications of nuclear energy, nuclear technologies and for protection of individuals and environment against all sources of ionising radiations.
Nuclear energy has great potential to be used as a future source of electricity in addition to other peaceful applications. To harness full potential of nuclear energy with built-in safeguards, India is required to have systems in line with International Standards. This also necessitates that participation of India in the development of International Standards is intensified so that concerns of Indian nuclear establishments are suitably reflected in the International Standards.
It is with the above objectives that BIS is hosting the 20th Plenary and other meetings of the ‘ISO/TC 85Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Technologies and Radiological Protection’ for the first time in India. About 150 international and national delegates from 16 countries are participating in these meetings, being organised during April 4-8, 2016 in New Delhi.
The Plenary meeting of ISO/TC 85 was inaugurated by Alka Panda, director general, BIS and attended by DK Shukla, executive director, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board; SAV Satya Murty, director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and chairman of National Committee, CHD 30; HerveMaillart, chairman ISO/TC 85; and DK Nayyar, deputy director general, BIS.
In her inaugural address, Alka Panda called for collective efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that peaceful application of nuclear energy take into account the security and safety of both mankind and environment. She urged upon the international community to develop implementable and technically sound standards having global acceptance, to harness potential of nuclear energy to its maximum for peaceful applications.
During the meetings, subjects such as radiological protection; nuclear waste characterisation; radioactivity measurement and monitoring in environment; siting, designing and operation of power reactors, decommissioning et al., are being discussed by nuclear experts for formulation of new International Standards. The meetings provide a platform to the Indian nuclear experts to interact with international experts for appreciation of latest concerns and trends in standardisation and identify gap areas for formulation of Indian Standards and for harmonisation with the ISO standards. The international experts will also have an opportunity to understand the significance of concerns being raised by India member body on various International Standards and subjects under ISO/TC 85.
The timing of this meeting is also contemporary, with the world leadership expressing its views and thoughts on issues concerning “nuclear security” at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, USA on April 1, 2016, which was also attended by the Prime Minister of India among leaders of more than 50 countries in the world.