The United Nations General Assembly has adopted two resolutions sponsored by India which call to reduce risk of nuclear accidents and prohibition on the use of such weapons. The two resolutions were named ‘Convention on the Prohibition of the use of Nuclear Weapons’ and ‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’, under the ‘Nuclear Weapons’ cluster. These resolutions manifest India’s commitment towards the goal of nuclear disarmament.

The “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons” was backed by a majority of UN Members and has been tabled by India since 1982. It calls for Conference on Disarmament to start negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. According to the resolution, the aim to provide a universal and legally binding agreement that would generate the necessary global political will for total elimination of nuclear weapons. The resolution on “Reducing Nuclear Danger” which was tabled since 1998 puts focus on unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons and underscores the need for a review of doctrines.

“India at forefront of counter-terrorism. Delighted that annual resolution tabled by India ‘Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction’ was co-sponsored by more than 75 countries & adopted today by consensus in First Committee of UN General Assembly,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador T S Tirumurti tweeted. According to sources, through its annual resolution, India has urged greater international co-operation to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. This resolution, which was co-sponsored by more than 75 countries, was adopted by consensus without a vote.

India’s call for strengthening national measures to address this issue at the General Assembly also predates the adoption of resolution 1540 by the Security Council, which obliges all states to refrain from supporting by any means non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery.