Minister of Defence Urged International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Oversight of Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Minister of Defence Urged International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Oversight of Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal

Posted 16 May 2025

2 min read

An image showing Major Role of IAEA

About IAEA

  • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
  • Genesis: Established in 1957 as an autonomous international organisation within the UN. 
  • Motto: Atoms for Peace and Development
  • Members: 180 (India is a member)
    • North Korea: Joined in 1974, withdrew in 1994
  • General Conference: All member states meet annually in Vienna. 
  • Recognition: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for promoting peaceful nuclear use and global safety
  • IAEA and NPT: The IAEA is not a member of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) but plays a key verification responsibilities under the Treaty.
    • Each non-nuclear-weapon State party is required under NPT to conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA)with the IAEA to enable the IAEA to verify the fulfilment of their obligation.

About NPT 

  • The NPT is a binding international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
  • It came into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995. 
  • So far, 191 countries have joined, including all five recognized nuclear-weapon states (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US).
    • India, Israel, and Pakistan have never joined, while North Korea withdrew in 2003.

Other Treaties to Prevent Nuclear Proliferation

  • Partial Test Ban Treaty 1963: Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and underwater (India has signed and ratified).
  • Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996: CTBT bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes (India did not sign) 
  •  Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) 2017: includes a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities (India did not sign).
  • Tags :
  • IAEA
  • International Atomic Energy Agency
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