Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

First Committee Of The United Nations General Assembly

India contributes to the debate on disarmament and international security in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. India is committed to the goal of global, non- discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.

India’s traditional resolution in the First Committee titled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” is adopted without a vote. The resolution calls upon UN Member States to take measures aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and to support international efforts in this regard.

India’s two other resolutions on: (a) Convention on prohibition of use of nuclear weapons, which reiterates the call to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on an International Convention for prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; and (b) Reducing Nuclear Danger, which highlights the need for a review of nuclear doctrines and immediate steps to reduce the risk of intentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through their de-alerting and de-targeting, are also adopted by broad support of the UN member States.

Another India-sponsored resolution on the "Role of Science and Technology in the context of International Security and Disarmament” is adopted by consensus. The Resolution encourages outreach events at the national, regional and international levels to facilitate multilateral dialogue on concurrent developments in science and technology and the potential impact on international security and disarmament efforts.

Conference On Disarmament

India participates actively in the Conference on Disarmament (CD), putting forth its position on nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances, prevention of an arms race in outer space, new types of weapons of mass destruction, and transparency in armaments, at its annual sessions from January-September. India has also expressed its support for the commencement of negotiations in the CD on a non-discriminatory and internationally verifiable FMCT in line with India’s commitment to global nuclear disarmament.

United Nations Security Council

As a part of the 2021 Comprehensive Review, UNSCR 1540 Committee reviewed India’s matrix to the 1540 Committee relating to weapons of mass destruction. The matrix assesses satisfactorily national-level implementation of UNSCR 1540 provisions in terms of legal compliance (both regulatory and enforcement) of prohibitions, measures and controls related to weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials, equipment and technologies.

As a member of UN Security Council during 2021-22, India participates in deliberations affecting international security affairs. India also engages with relevant committees of the UN on specific matters relating to the measures on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction decided by the UNSC.

Chemical Weapons Convention

As a member of the Executive Council (EC) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), India participates in its review of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), encompassing chemical weapon destruction, industry verification, national implementation and international cooperation and assistance. India also participates in the Conference of States Parties and bodies under the OPCW on specific matters.

Biological & Toxin Weapons Convention

India is also a party to the Biological & Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), which serves as a framework against production, acquisition or transfer of biological weapons. India participates in the Annual Meeting of State Parties and other meetings of the BTWC.

Convention On Certain Conventional Weapons

As a party to the Convention on certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), India participates in the meetings of the CCW, its Protocols and a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. India submits its annual national reports under the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA) which provides a comprehensive set of national, regional and global measures, and participates in its meetings.

Export Control Regimes

India participates in multilateral export control regimes towards contributing to the goals of non-proliferation through guidelines for export controls and lists of specific goods and technologies of concern. India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016, Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) in December 2017 and the Australia Group (AG) in January 2018.

India’s law-based export control system is implemented through well-developed licensing, enforcement and outreach mechanisms. India’s export control list of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) is updated from time to time, to harmonise it with the guidelines and control lists of the relevant multilateral export control regimes and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

India participates in the IAEA General Conference (GC), as well as various meetings of its Board of Governors. India’s declared 31 facilities operate under IAEA safeguards. India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) serves as an institutional structure for cooperation on peaceful use of nuclear energy. India also contributed to activities in support of various applications of radiation technologies, such as in healthcare, agriculture, etc. India participates in the sessions of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Council and its Committees, as an Associate Member of CERN since 2017. India cooperates with various countries on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through bilateral agreements and arrangements.

Outer Space

Apart from meetings on outer space in the Conference on Disarmament, India participates in the meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna and its subsidiary bodies. India also collaborates bilaterally with various countries on the peaceful uses of outer space through multifarious activities and provision of space services.

As a participant in the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) since June 2016, India observes its provisions on transparency and confidence building measures, including prelaunch notifications of India’s ballistic missile and space launches. India also attends its meetings and submits its annual declaration under the arrangement.

Maritime Security Affairs

India has significant interests in collaboration for enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. In this direction, India actively engages with various partner countries bilaterally, plurilaterally and through regional entities. India’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC- IOR) has steadily grown as an important platform for maritime security partnership with friendly countries and enhancing maritime domain awareness collectively.

India also participates in regional initiatives such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct-Jeddah Amendment (DCOC-JA), the Friends of Gulf of Guinea (G7+FoGG), and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). India has been an active member of Co-operative Mechanism setup in 2007 on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) "Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes”’ initiative. India has been contributing to and participating in the meetings of Aids to Navigation Fund (ANF) Committee in the region.

Conference On Interaction And Confidence Building Measures In Asia (CICA), Asean Regional Forum (ARF) And Asean Defence Minister Meeting Plus (ADMM+)

India engages in regional security forums such as the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Minister Meeting Plus (ADMM+), and contributes actively in their various initiatives and activities.