Introduction 

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear weapon test in 2025, the global community faces unprecedented challenges in nuclear arms control and proliferation. With approximately 12,100 nuclear warheads currently in existence across nine nuclear-weapons states, including India, the threat of nuclear conflict has reached a critical juncture. This situation is further complicated by Russia's revision of its nuclear doctrine, NATO's expanding missile deployment, and the increasing risk of non-state actors gaining access to nuclear capabilities through cyber and AI pathways. 

How has the Global Nuclear Landscape Evolved from 1945 to 2025, and What Role Can India Play in Promoting Disarmament? 

• The First Nuclear Test (1945): 
  • Conducted by US at Los Alamos on 16th July, 1945 
  • Led by J. Robert Oppenheimer as part of Manhattan Project 
  • First-ever nuclear weapon detonation, witnessed by General Thomas Farrell 
• The Avadi Resolution (17th January 1955): 
  • Passed by Indian National Congress in Madras State 
  • Attended by Jawaharlal Nehru and C. Rajagopalachari 
  • Called for total prohibition of atomic, hydrogen, and other weapons of mass destruction 
  • Requested UN Disarmament Commission involvement 
• Russell-Einstein Manifesto (1955): 
  • Led by Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein 
  • Signed by nine other scientists 
  • Released through Joseph Rotblat 
  • Called for scientific assessment of mass destruction weapons' dangers 
  • Famous phrase: "Remember your humanity, and forget the rest" 
• 70-Year Developments (1955-2025): 
  • Nuclear Arsenal Changes: 
    • Reduced from ~60,000 during Cold War to ~12,100 warheads by 2024 
    • Nine countries now possess nuclear weapons, including India 
  • Current Challenges: 
    • Russia revised nuclear doctrine, declaring arms control "a thing of the past" 
    • NATO's expanded missile deployment into Russian space 
    • Israel-Palestine tensions with nuclear implications 
    • Increased risk of non-state actors accessing nuclear weapons through cyber and AI 
    • Lack of prominent scientific leaders warning about nuclear dangers 
• India's Role: 
  • Transformed from advocating disarmament (1955 Avadi Resolution) to becoming a nuclear weapons state 
  • Rajiv Gandhi's 1988 Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapons Free World 
  • Current potential to lead new peace initiatives beyond Russia-Ukraine mediation 

What is NATO ? 

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): 
  • Established in April 1949 through the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) 
  • A military alliance providing collective security against the Soviet Union initially 
  • Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium 
• Key Roles/Objectives: 
  • Political Objectives: 
    • Promotes democratic values 
    • Enables member consultation on defense and security issues 
    • Builds trust and prevents conflict through cooperation 
  • Military Objectives: 
    • Commits to peaceful dispute resolution 
    • Provides military power for crisis management operations 
    • Operates under Article 5 (collective defense clause) or UN mandates 
    • Can work alone or with other international organizations 
• Membership (30 members): 
  • Original Members (1949): 
    • Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, UK, USA 
  • Later Additions: 
    • 1952: Greece, Turkey 
    • 1955: West Germany (now Germany) 
    • 1982: Spain 
    • 1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland 
    • 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia 
    • 2009: Albania, Croatia 
    • 2017: Montenegro 
    • 2020: North Macedonia 
• Key Operational Aspects: 
  • Integrated military command structure 
  • Most forces remain under national control until NATO tasks are agreed 
  • All members have equal say 
  • Decisions must be unanimous and consensual 
  • Funded primarily by members (US contributes approximately 75% of budget) 
  • Protection doesn't extend to members' civil wars or internal coups 

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 

• The NPT serves as the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and promotes the controlled peaceful use of nuclear technology while working toward complete disarmament. 
• It establishes a safeguards system under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify compliance with treaty obligations by member states. 
• The treaty celebrated its 50th anniversary on 5th March, 2020, with NATO reaffirming its support and commitment to full implementation across all aspects. 
• Under NPT Article VI commitments, nuclear-weapon states have significantly reduced their nuclear stockpiles, de-targeted weapons, and lowered alert status since the Cold War's end. 
• NATO has demonstrated commitment to the treaty by reducing Europe-based nuclear weapons by 85% since 1991 and 95% since the Cold War's peak. 
• The NPT provides a framework for international cooperation in sharing peaceful nuclear energy benefits while maintaining strict control over weapons-related technologies and materials. 

Conclusion 

India stands uniquely positioned to revitalize its historical commitment to global nuclear disarmament, as evidenced by the 1955 Avadi Resolution and Rajiv Gandhi's 1988 Action Plan. The urgency of the present situation demands that India take concrete diplomatic action beyond its current mediation efforts between Moscow and Kiev. Specifically, India must initiate a comprehensive international conference focused on preventing mass annihilation and developing a new Action Plan that includes binding commitments from all nuclear powers, including India itself.