India applies for CERN associate membership

• India has applied to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) at Geneva in Switzerland for associate membership.
• If India was granted associate membership, Indian researchers would be eligible for jobs at the CERN. Currently, researchers of institutes that collaborate with the CERN can only be deputed there for short periods of time. It will also open the gates for the private sector to the international research organisation.
• The CERN was established in 1954 by 12 European countries. At present, it has 20 member-States.
• Under the scheme, associate membership is an essential pre-requisite for membership to the organisation. Thus countries may apply for associate membership alone, or apply to become associate members on the route to becoming members of the organisation