Contents show
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
- Described as the “cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament” and it is among the most widely adhered to global treaties.
- Opened for signature in 1968, entered into force in 1970.
- The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before 1 January 1967
- The nuclear-weapon states United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, and China.
- India is a non-signatory to this treaty
- A total of 191 States have joined the Treaty, including five nuclear-weapon States.
Objectives:
- To prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology,
- To promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
- To further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general complete disarmament.
Functions
- Represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by nuclear-weapon States.
- Facilitates cooperation on peaceful applications of nuclear technology under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- Creating nuclear-weapon-free zones.
India’s stand on NPT
- India believes it is a biased legal instrument
- Nuclear weapons constitute an integral part of India’s security.
- As, India, faced with two nuclear neighbours with one of them declaring its nuclear arsenal as India-specific, had to reluctantly
- become a nuclear-weapon state.
- India has been a consistent advocate of global nuclear disarmament since the inception of the concept in the United Nations.
- India’s unblemished record on non-proliferation
- Its consistently responsible posture on nuclear weapons enabled it to successfully conclude the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008