Maarg Manthan · Topic 16.9

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons

Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.9

Weapons of mass destruction are weapons that can cause large scale death and damage, namely nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Nuclear weapons use fission or fusion and are limited by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968, in force from 1970, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty of 1996, which is not yet in force. Chemical weapons use toxic chemicals such as mustard gas and nerve agents, and the Chemical Weapons Convention, opened in 1993 and in force from 1997, bans them, with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at The Hague checking compliance. Biological weapons use germs or toxins and are banned by the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, in force from 1975. India is a party to the chemical and biological conventions but is not a party to the NPT.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems

At a Glance

Nuclear NPT 1968, CTBT 1996
Chemical CWC 1993, in force 1997
Biological BWC 1972, in force 1975
Verifier OPCW, The Hague
Indian law WMD Act, 2005
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of stealth. It covers the most dangerous class of weapons and the treaties and regimes that control them, which is a regular theme in international relations and security papers. Previous topic: Stealth Technology. Next topic: Directed Energy Weapons.

What Are the Three Types of WMD and Their Treaties?

Type	Control framework
Nuclear weapons	Use energy from fission (atom bomb) or fusion (hydrogen bomb). The NPT recognises five nuclear weapon states: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China. The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions but has not entered into force. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in January 2021
Chemical weapons	Choking agents (chlorine), blister agents (mustard gas), nerve agents (sarin, VX) and blood agents. The Chemical Weapons Convention bans development, production, stockpiling and use. The OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013
Biological weapons	Disease causing microbes or toxins such as anthrax. The Biological Weapons Convention of 1972 bans them but has no formal verification body
Geneva Protocol, 1925	Banned the use of chemical and biological weapons in war but not their production
UNSCR 1540, 2004	Obliges all states to stop non-state actors from getting WMD and related materials
Delivery systems	Missiles, aircraft, artillery and covert means
Radiological weapons	A dirty bomb spreads radioactive material using conventional explosive, and is a concern with terrorists

What Are the Export Control Groups and India’s Position?

Nuclear Suppliers Group: a group of nuclear supplier states, formed in 1974 after India’s first nuclear test; India has sought membership since 2008 and has not been admitted
Missile Technology Control Regime: India joined in June 2016
Wassenaar Arrangement: export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods; India joined in December 2017
Australia Group: controls chemical and biological precursors and equipment; India joined in January 2018
India and the NPT: India has not signed the NPT, calling it discriminatory, and follows a nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrence and no first use
India and the CWC: India ratified in 1996 and declared its stockpile, and destroyed all declared chemical weapons stock by 2009
India and the BWC: India ratified in 1974
WMD Act, 2005: the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act bans unlawful activity related to WMD and gives powers to the Government to control exports and brokering

What Else Should You Remember?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: atomic bombs were used on 6 and 9 August 1945
Pokhran: India conducted tests in 1974 and 1998
Fissile material: uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are used
Hydrogen bomb: fusion weapon of much greater power
Nerve agents: sarin was used in the Tokyo subway in 1995 and in Syria in 2013 near Damascus
Syria: the OPCW supervised the removal of Syria’s declared stock from 2013 but use has been reported since
Novichok: a group of nerve agents used in the Salisbury attack of 2018
Anthrax letters: a 2001 attack in the United States
Smallpox: the disease was eradicated, and stocks are held at two laboratories under World Health Organization oversight
Dual use: many chemicals and equipment have peaceful uses, which makes control hard
Bioterrorism: a risk linked with advances in biotechnology, as in Recent Biotechnology Developments
Verification gap: the BWC does not have a body like the OPCW
NBC defence: India’s DRDO and the National Disaster Management Authority prepare for nuclear, biological and chemical emergencies
Nuclear security summits: held from 2010 to 2016 to secure materials
New START: the United States-Russia treaty on strategic weapons that was due to expire in February 2026
Link: Indian nuclear programme is in Department of Atomic Energy and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Link to doctrine: weapon types are in Classification of Missiles: Ballistic vs Cruise Missiles

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Treaties: NPT, CTBT, CWC, BWC with years
Bodies: OPCW, NSG
India: joined MTCR 2016, Wassenaar 2017, Australia Group 2018
Current affairs link: New START expiry and chemical weapons use
Common errors: saying India is a member of the NSG or signed the NPT

As an analytical point, the control regimes have reduced the spread of WMD but depend on trust and verification. India supports a non-discriminatory disarmament, while joining export control regimes to show responsible behaviour.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Treaties Three types
Groups Export controls
India Position

What Came Next?

The next topic covers directed energy weapons. Next topic: Directed Energy Weapons.

Key People and Terms

WMD Weapons of mass destruction
NPT Non-Proliferation Treaty
CTBT Test ban treaty
CWC Chemical Weapons Convention
OPCW Chemical weapons watchdog
NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

CWC in force: 1997; BWC: 1975; NPT: 1970.
India joined Australia Group in 2018.
India destroyed declared chemical stock by 2009.
WMD Act: 2005.
OPCW Nobel Peace Prize: 2013.

Do Not Confuse With

NPT and CTBT Spread control versus test ban
CWC and BWC Verification body exists versus no body
NSG and MTCR Nuclear versus missile export control

Memory Hook

NPT sixty-eight, BWC seventy-two, CWC ninety-three; India in MTCR, Wassenaar and Australia, not NSG.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for treaty years and India’s memberships. These points help.

Types NBC
Treaties Regimes
India Stance

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the international framework to control weapons of mass destruction and India’s position on it.”

How to Answer

Types NBC.
Treaties Years.
Groups Export controls.
India Stance.

GS Relevance

Prelims: treaties and years, organisations, India's position, groups. GS Paper 2: international institutions; GS Paper 3: security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are weapons of mass destruction?

Weapons of mass destruction are weapons able to kill or injure large numbers of people and cause great damage. They include nuclear weapons, chemical weapons such as nerve agents, and biological weapons using disease causing organisms or toxins. Radiological weapons, or dirty bombs, are sometimes added.

What is the Chemical Weapons Convention?

The Chemical Weapons Convention, opened for signature in 1993 and in force since 1997, bans the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons, and requires destruction of existing stocks. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague inspects and verifies compliance.

Is India a member of the NPT?

No. India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it considers discriminatory because it divides countries into nuclear haves and have-nots. India follows a policy of credible minimum deterrence and no first use, and has a moratorium on nuclear testing.

What is the Australia Group?

The Australia Group is an informal group of countries that coordinate export controls on chemicals, biological agents and related equipment so that they are not used to make chemical or biological weapons. India joined it in January 2018, as the 43rd member.

What is the WMD Act, 2005 of India?

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005 is an Indian law that bans unlawful manufacture, transport or transfer of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. It gives the Government powers over export controls, brokering and financing, and sets heavy punishments.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 India is a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

True

It ratified in 1996.

2 India has signed the NPT.

False

It rejects it as discriminatory.

3 India joined the Australia Group in 2018.