2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: CTBT, CTBT organization

COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY ORGANISATION

For: Preliminary & Mains
Topic covers: CTBT, CTBTO, CTBT Benefits to India

News Flash

In a renewed effort, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has offered India an ‘Observer’ status and access to state-of-art International Monitoring System (IMS) data.

Benefits to India

Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System — a network which when complete will consist of 337 facilities (321 monitoring stations and 16 radionuclide labs) located in 89 countries.
This system can detect even small nuclear explosions using seismology, hydroacoustics, infrasound and radionuclide technology.
Nowhere can get such quality of data necessary for earthquake monitoring and following the radioisotope dispersion.
India will have access to the data available which was traditionally not made available.

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The CTBT prohibits “any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world.
The treaty was opened for signature in September 1996, and has been signed by 184 nations and ratified by 168.

Why has Treaty not entered into force yet?

The treaty cannot enter into force until it is ratified by 44 specific nations, eight of which have yet to do so: China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and the United States.

Why is the CTBT so important?

The CTBT is the last barrier on the way to develop nuclear weapons. It curbs the development of new nuclear weapons and the improvement of existing nuclear weapon designs. When the Treaty enters into force it provides a legally binding norm against nuclear testing. The Treaty also helps prevent human suffering and environmental damages caused by nuclear testing.

Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

The CTBTO is an international organization established by the States Signatories to the Treaty on 19 November 1996 and has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The objective of the organization is to achieve the object and purpose of the Treaty, to ensure the implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with the Treaty, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among Member States.

To this end, the Commission prepares for the entry-into-force of the Treaty and carries out the necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the Treaty, including the establishment of a global verification regime. The Preparatory Commission consists of a plenary body composed of all States signatories to the Treaty and a Provisional Technical Secretariat.

Source: New Indian Express, The Hindu

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