UPSC Prelims 2015·GS1·polity-and-governance·social justice and international relations

Consider the following countries: 1. China 2. France 3. India 4. Israel 5. Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

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  1. A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
  2. B1, 3, 4 and 5 only
  3. C2, 4 and 5 only
  4. D1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) officially recognizes five Nuclear Weapons States (NWS). These are the five countries that possessed nuclear weapons before 1 January 1967, and are also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). These five NWS are: United States (US) Russia (then the Soviet Union) United Kingdom (UK) France China Therefore, from the given options, only China (1) and France (2) are recognized Nuclear Weapons States under the NPT. India (3), Israel (4), and Pakistan (5) are known to possess nuclear weapons but are not signatories to the NPT as NWS, nor are they recognized as such by the NPT. They are considered de facto nuclear weapons states outside the NPT framework.
polity-and-governance: Consider the following countries: 1. China 2. France 3. India 4. Israel 5. Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear We
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