Context: Recently, the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two resolutions sponsored by India which call for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and reduce the risks of accidental use of nuclear weapons in the world.

• This resolution, which was co-sponsored by more than 75 countries, was adopted by consensus without a vote.

Background

• India, a victim of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, has been at the forefront in highlighting the serious threat to international peace and security emanating from acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups.
• Through its annual resolution, India has urged greater international co-operation to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

The two resolutions were named as 

1. 'Convention on the Prohibition of the use of Nuclear Weapons'
2. 'Reducing Nuclear Danger', under the 'Nuclear Weapons' cluster.

About "Convention on the Prohibition of the use of Nuclear Weapons" 

• The resolution on Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons was backed by a majority of UN Members and was 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.
• The aim is that a universal and legally binding agreement would generate the necessary global political will that can lead to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

About "Resolution on Reducing Nuclear Danger"

• The resolution on Reducing Nuclear Danger was tabled in 1998.
• It draws global attention on unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons and underscores the need for a review of nuclear doctrines.
• The resolution calls for concrete steps to reduce such risks, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons.

Additional Information
About the Conference on Disarmament (CD)

• The CD is a multilateral disarmament forum established by the international community to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements based at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
• The Conference meets annually in three separate sessions in Geneva.
• The Conference was first established in 1979 as the Committee on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community.
• It was renamed the Conference on Disarmament in 1984.

Recent developments from India

• India has not revised its key principles regarding the weapons in its arsenal.
• Raksha Mantri has earlier hinted at a possibility of changing the No First Use (NFU) principle by declaring that ‘circumstances’ will determine the “No First Use” stance.

India stands committed

• India believes that nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step-by-step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework.
• India remains convinced of the need for meaningful dialogue among all states possessing nuclear weapons, for building trust and confidence.
• India also remains committed to negotiations regarding a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the CD on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator or CD/1299 which dates to March 24, 1995.

India’s No first use doctrine

• For India, Nuclear weapons are political weapons and not weapons of war and their sole purpose is to deter the use of nuclear weapons by India’s adversaries. India has nit only established itself as a responsible nuclear state, but guided the world about how to be a responsible nuclear state through No first use policy.

Features of India’s nuclear doctrine:

• Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrent.
• A “No First Use” policy i.e. nuclear weapons to be used only in case of any nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere.
• Non use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.
• Nuclear retaliatory attacks to be authorised only by civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.
• Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage.
• India may retaliate with nuclear weapons to retaliate against attack  with biological or chemical weapons.
• Strict controls on export of nuclear and missile related materials and technologies.
• A commitment to goal of nuclear weapon free world.

About United Nations General Assembly 

• It is popularly known as the parliament of the world, where all the 193 UN member states are represented, the UNGA is the deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
• Among the world’s 196 countries, 193 are UN member states and three nations- Palestine, the Vatican City and Taiwan are not a part of the international organization as their country status is not recognized globally due to political and religious reasons.

Roles and functions

• Takes a decision on important matters such as peace and security, discusses various global issues and budgetary matters.
• Decides on matters such as the admission of new members.
• Decisions are taken through a vote. Admission of new members and budgetary matters require a two-thirds majority, while the decision on other issues are taken by a simple majority.
• Each sovereign state gets one vote and the votes are not binding on the membership, except in budgetary matters.
• The Assembly has no binding votes or veto powers like the UN Security Council.
• The UNGA can express world opinion, promote international cooperation in various fields and make recommendations to the UNSC and elect the Security Council’s non-permanent members.