Consider the following countries:
- 1.China
- 2.France
- 3.India
- 4.Israel
- 5.Pakistan
Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The NPT recognises as a nuclear-weapon State only a country that manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon before 1 January 1967. That gives five States: the US, USSR (now Russia), UK, France and China. Of the countries listed, only China and France qualify, so the answer is (a).
- ✓ 1. China tested its first nuclear weapon in October 1964, before the 1 January 1967 cut-off. It is therefore one of the five recognised nuclear-weapon States.
- ✓ 2. France is one of the five recognised nuclear-weapon States, along with the US, USSR/Russia, UK and China. These five are also the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.
- ✗ 3. India's first test was in 1974 and its series of tests came in May 1998, both after the 1 January 1967 cut-off. India never signed the NPT, calling it discriminatory, and says it cannot join as a non-nuclear-weapon State.
- ✗ 4. Israel is not among the five States recognised as nuclear-weapon States under the NPT. It is not a party to the treaty either.
- ✗ 5. Pakistan conducted its tests in 1998, soon after India's May 1998 tests. That is far beyond the 1967 cut-off, so it cannot be a recognised nuclear-weapon State.
Remember · NPT nuclear-weapon States are only five: US, Russia (earlier USSR), UK, France and China. Each tested before 1 January 1967. India, Israel and Pakistan are outside this list.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Politics in India since Independence, Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 12 Politics in India since Independence, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (text), United Nations ↗ “For the purposes of this Treaty, a nuclear-weapon State is one which has manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device prior to 1 January 1967.”
- NCERT Class 12 · Politics in India since Independence, Chapter 4 “the five nuclear weapon powers, the US, USSR, UK, France, and China (Taiwan then represented China) – also the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council”
- NCERT Class 12 · Politics in India since Independence, Chapter 4 “India conducted a series of nuclear tests in May 1998, demonstrating its capacity to use nuclear energy for military purposes. Pakistan soon followed”
- Permanent Mission of India to the UN, New York – India at UNGA (explanation of vote) ↗ “India is a responsible Nuclear Weapon State and therefore, there is no question of India joining the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
