The Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is an international agreement intended to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and associated technology. Its aim is to encourage the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to further the objective of disarmament. The pact was signed in 1968 and became effective in 1970. Currently, there are 191 member states, with India being a notable exception.
Under the NPT, member countries agree to abandon any existing or future plans to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for access to peaceful nuclear technology. It is the only multilateral treaty that commits nuclear-weapon states to the goal of disarmament. The NPT classifies nuclear-weapon states as those nations that manufactured and detonated a nuclear weapon or similar explosive device before January 1, 1967.
A Look at India’s Position on the NPT
India is one of five countries that either did not sign the NPT or signed but later withdrew. This group includes Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan. India has always viewed the NPT as discriminatory and has refused to participate in it.
India has opposed international treaties aimed at non-proliferation as they are selectively applicable to non-nuclear powers and legitimise the monopoly of the five recognised nuclear-weapons states.
Issues Stemming from Russia’s Objection to the NPT
Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine and its takeover of the Chernobyl nuclear plant – the site of the worst nuclear disaster worldwide in 1986 – have reignited global fears of another nuclear crisis.
Presently, the threat of nuclear weapons usage is higher than at any point since the peak of the Cold War, and the international security environment has deteriorated significantly. This NPT conference was a missed opportunity to bolster the treaty and global security by agreeing on clear action plans, benchmarks, and timelines to address the increasing risks of nuclear arms races and the use of nuclear weapons.
Exploring Other Treaties and Agreements Related to Nuclear Weapons
Several other treaties and agreements pertain to the issue of nuclear weapons. The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, In Outer Space, and Under Water, also known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), is one such agreement. Then there’s the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). India has not signed the CTBT as it strongly champions time-bound disarmament commitments from nuclear weapon states (NWS).
The Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW) came into effect on 22 January 2021, but India is not a signatory. India is also not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Other significant agreements in this context include the Missile Technology Control Regime, Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
Last Modified: February 18, 2024