Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

Subject – IR

Context – World powers vow to stop spread of nuclear weapons

Concept –

The NPT is a multilateral treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons including three elements: (1) non-proliferation, (2) disarmament, and (3) peaceful use of nuclear energy.
These elements constitute a “grand bargain” between the five nuclear weapon states and the non-nuclear weapon states.
The treaty was signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. Presently, it has 190 member states.
It is the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.
Year 2020 marked the 50thanniversary of the entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a legal instrument treated as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Four UN member states have never accepted the NPT, three of which possess or are thought to possess nuclear weapons: India, Israel, and Pakistan.

Key provisions:

The Treaty defines nuclear weapon states (NWS) as those that had manufactured and detonated a nuclear explosive device prior to 1 January 1967. All the other states are therefore considered non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS).
The five nuclear weapon states are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Treaty does not affect the right of state parties to develop, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Role of States:

Nuclear weapon states are not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons and not to assist, encourage, or induce any NNWS to manufacture or otherwise acquire them.
Non-nuclear weapons states are not to receive nuclear weapons from any transferor, and are not to manufacture or acquire them.
NNWS must accept the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)safeguards on all nuclear materials on their territories or under their control.

India’s Stand on NPT

India is one of the only five countries that either did not sign the NPT or signed but withdrew, thus becoming part of a list that includes Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan.
India always considered the NPT as discriminatory and had refused to sign it.
India has opposed the international treaties aimed at non-proliferation since they were selectively applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers.