Weapons of Mass Destruction

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The Lok Sabha has unanimously passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. This bill seeks to amend the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2005 to provide against the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction along with their delivery systems in line with India՚s international obligations.

The 2005 Act prohibited the manufacturing, transport, and transfer of weapons of mass destruction along with their means of delivery. As per the United States Department of Homeland Security, “A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended for harming a large number of people.”

Weapons of Mass Destruction

About

  • The need to amend the Act has arisen from the fact since in recent times, regulations relating to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction including their delivery systems by the international organizations have expanded.
  • The financial sanctions have been targeted by the United Nations Security Council.
  • At the same time, the Financial Action Task Force have mandated against financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction along with their delivery systems.
  • The leader of the Church of England in 1937 was the first to use the expression “weapon of mass destruction” (WMD) referring to the aerial bombing of civilians in the Basque town of Guernica by German and Guernica fascists in support of General Franco during the Spanish Civil War.
  • In the early 2000s, the expression WMD entered the vocabularies of people and countries around the world post the former US President and the UK under Prime Minister justified the invasion of Iraq on the grounds that the then government of Saddam Hussain was hiding the weapons in the country.

Control over Use of WMDs

  • Several international treaties and agreements regulate the use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
  • Banned the use of chemical and biological weapons:
    • The Geneva Protocol, 1925
    • The Biological Weapons Convention, 1972
    • Chemical Weapons Convention, 1992
  • Both the 1972 and 1992 treaties have been signed and ratified by India.
  • Even though there are several countries who have been accused of non-compliance, there are very few non-signatory countries to these treaties.
  • Use and proliferation of nuclear weapons is regulated by treaties such as:
    • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
    • Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

India՚s 2005 WMD Act

Biological Weapons

Defined as microbial or other biological agents, or toxins of types and in quantities having no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes including weapons, equipment or delivery systems specially designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.

Chemical Weapons

  • Defined as toxic chemicals and their precursors except where used for peaceful, protective, and certain specialized military and law enforcement purposes.
  • Munitions and devices specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those chemicals.
  • Any other equipment specifically designed for use in connection with the employment of these munitions and devices.

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