55th Anniversary of NPT | 11 Mar 2025

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) marks 55 years on 5^th March, 2025.  

• It was approved by the UN General Assembly on 12th June, 1968 and came into force on 5^th March, 1970. 
• About NPT: It is the only multilateral binding treaty for Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to disarmament while promoting peaceful nuclear energy use. 
• Key Provisions: It defines NWS as countries possessing nuclear weapons before  1^st January , 1967 (USA, UK, France, China, and USSR/Russia). 
  • Non-nuclear states agree not to develop nuclear weapons, while nuclear states pledge not to transfer them. 
  • It allows peaceful use of nuclear energy and provides a withdrawal option if national security is threatened. 
• Membership: 191 members with 5 NWS (US, Russia, UK, France & China). 
  • India is not a member. 
• Monitoring: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors compliance. 
• India and NPT: India opposes the NPT, calling it discriminatory, as it legitimizes nuclear weapons for five countries while denying the same right to others. 
  • India follows a "No First Use" (NFU) policy and is committed to global nuclear disarmament.

Read More: Nuclear Disarmament