- The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is observed on September 26.
- This year’s UN General Assembly agenda includes discussions on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), distinguishing it from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
- The TPNW aims for total nuclear disarmament, while the NPT focuses on non-proliferation and limited disarmament.
- The TPNW, in force since 2021, prohibits the development, testing, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons.
- It extends beyond the NPT, addressing nuclear deterrence and disarmament directly.
- 97 countries have signed or ratified the TPNW, representing nearly 50% of the global commitment to controlling weapons of mass destruction.
- Nuclear-armed states and their allies, including India, have not signed the treaty, citing security concerns and strategic interests.
- India has not signed the NPT, viewing it as discriminatory, but has not actively undermined it.
- Similarly, India and other nuclear states could remain outside the TPNW without directly opposing it.
- The TPNW lacks strong enforcement mechanisms but holds the normative potential to delegitimize nuclear weapons, similar to the trajectory of chemical and biological weapons treaties.
| Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Opened for signature in 1968 and in force since 1970, the NPT is the only binding multilateral commitment by nuclear-armed states toward disarmament. It has been ratified by 191 states, including all five nuclear-weapon states. It establishes safeguards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure compliance through inspections. These safeguards aim to prevent the diversion of fissile materials for weapons while promoting equal access to peaceful nuclear technology. India, Pakistan and Israel did not sign NPT, whereas South Sudan signed but did not ratify. |
Dig Deeper: Read about the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
