Rapid Fire
Chemical Weapons Convention
- 05 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
India hosted the 23rd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Chemical Weapons Convention
- About: CWC is a multilateral treaty banning chemical weapons and requiring their destruction within the stipulated time.
- It came into force in 1997 and its implementation is overseen by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with 193 member states.
- OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its global efforts in eliminating chemical weapons.
- India and CWC: India is an original signatory of the CWC and implements it through the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC), established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000.
- The Indian Chemical Council (ICC), India’s oldest chemical industry association, was awarded the OPCW-The Hague Award 2024, becoming the first industry body globally to receive this honour.
- Chemical Weapons: A chemical weapon is any toxic chemical or device designed to cause intentional harm or death, including munitions and equipment for delivery.
- It mandates the destruction of old and abandoned chemical weapons and requires members to declare riot-control agents like tear gas.
| Read More: Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention |
