Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
India has consistently maintained a cautious and principled stance on international treaties concerning nuclear weapons. While acknowledging the need for nuclear disarmament, India has refrained from joining both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). This position stems from a fundamental disagreement with the perceived inequities embedded within these frameworks. India views the NPT as inherently discriminatory, solidifying the status of existing nuclear weapon states, while the CTBT is seen as ineffective in achieving verifiable disarmament, particularly given the lack of commitment from those same states to eliminate their own nuclear arsenals.
India’s Opposition to the NPT
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signed in 1968, aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament. However, India has consistently opposed the NPT on several grounds:
- Discriminatory Nature: The NPT categorizes nations into nuclear-weapon states (NWS) – those who had developed and tested nuclear weapons before 1967 (US, USSR, UK, France, China) – and non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). India believes this is discriminatory as it perpetuates a nuclear monopoly for a select few.
- Lack of Universalization: Several countries, including Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea, never signed the NPT, undermining its universality and effectiveness.
- Disarmament Obligations Not Met: Article VI of the NPT obligates NWS to pursue good-faith negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament. India argues that these obligations have not been adequately fulfilled.
- Right to Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy: India wanted assurances regarding access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, which were not sufficiently addressed in the initial NPT framework.
India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 (Smiling Buddha), explicitly stating it was for peaceful purposes, but this was viewed as a challenge to the NPT regime.
India’s Opposition to the CTBT
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), negotiated in the mid-1990s, aims to ban all nuclear explosions, for both weapon development and peaceful purposes. India signed the CTBT in 1996 but has not ratified it. Its opposition is based on the following:
- Ineffectiveness of Verification: India argues that the CTBT’s International Monitoring System (IMS) is not foolproof and cannot guarantee the detection of all nuclear tests, especially low-yield tests. Concerns exist about the ability to monitor tests conducted underground or in remote locations.
- Lack of Time-Bound Disarmament: Similar to the NPT, the CTBT lacks a clear timeline for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons by NWS. India believes a test ban should be a step towards disarmament, not a substitute for it.
- Entry into Force Issues: The CTBT has not entered into force because it requires ratification by 44 specific states, including those possessing nuclear capabilities. Several key states, including the US, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, and Egypt, have not ratified it.
- National Security Concerns: India maintains that it needs the option to conduct occasional tests to ensure the reliability and safety of its nuclear deterrent, particularly given the evolving security environment.
India’s nuclear tests in 1998 (Operation Shakti) were conducted after the CTBT was signed but before its ratification, demonstrating India’s commitment to its strategic autonomy and its concerns about the treaty’s limitations.
Comparing the Opposition
| Treaty | Grounds for Opposition |
|---|---|
| NPT | Discriminatory, lack of universalization, unmet disarmament obligations, restrictions on peaceful use. |
| CTBT | Ineffective verification, lack of time-bound disarmament, non-entry into force, national security concerns. |
Conclusion
India’s opposition to both the NPT and CTBT, while seemingly contradictory, reflects a consistent policy rooted in principles of non-discrimination, verifiable disarmament, and national security. India advocates for a universal, comprehensive, and legally binding treaty on nuclear weapons that addresses the concerns of all states and leads to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Its stance underscores the need for a more equitable and effective global nuclear order, moving beyond the existing frameworks that perpetuate inequalities and hinder genuine progress towards disarmament.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.