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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Bill

Posted on August 2, 2022 by admin1  30

In News

  • Recently, the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Bill was passed by voice vote in Rajya Sabha.

Major Highlights

  • The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, was introduced by the External Affairs Minister.
  • Aim: It seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
  • Opposition’ stand: 
    • The Bill, passed by Lok Sabha in the previous session, was passed by a voice vote in the Upper House, a move challenged by several Opposition MPs, who alleged that it had been passed even as the House remained disrupted.
  • Centre’s stand: Unanimous support: All members have recognised that:
    • Terrorism is a serious threat,
    • Weapons of mass destruction are a serious threat, 
    • There is a gap in the law. 
  • Gap from previous law, filled: 
    • Currently, the law covers only trading; it does not cover financing. 
    • This gap needed to be filled. 

Image Courtesy: ET 

Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022

  • About: 
    • It was introduced in Lok Sabha on April 5, 2022. 
    • The Bill amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005. 
  • 2005 Act: It prohibits unlawful activities (such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer) related to weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery. 
  • Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons.
  • Prohibition on financing certain activities: The Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. 
  • Power to Central Government: 
    • To prevent persons from financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly). 
    • It may also prohibit persons from making finances or related services available for the benefit of other persons in relation to any activity which is prohibited.

Significance

  • Funding: The existing Act was silent on the financing of such WMDs but this amendment has brought teeth to the Act.
  • Strengthened Centre: The Act has given powers to the Central Government to seize, freeze or control the economic resources used in unlawful WMDs.
  • As per the norms of FATF: Recommendation 7 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requires all countries to ensure that financing for WMD-related activities is prohibited.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

  • WMDs are weapons with the capacity to inflict death and destruction on such a massive scale and so indiscriminately that its very presence in the hands of a hostile power can be considered a grievous threat. 
  • Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons—frequently referred to collectively as NBC weapons.
  • Conventions to outlaw such WMDs:
    • Biological Weapons Convention (BWC):
      • The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. 
      • It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
      • The BWC is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address WMD proliferation and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons. 
      • The Convention has reached almost universal membership with 184 States Parties and four Signatory States. 
    • Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC):
      • After 12 years of negotiations, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was adopted by the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on 3 September 1992. 
      • The CWC allows for the stringent verification of compliance by State Parties. 
      • The CWC opened for signature in Paris on 13 January 1993 and entered into force on 29 April 1997. 
      • The CWC is the first disarmament agreement negotiated within a multilateral framework that provides for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction under universally applied international control.
  • India is signatory to both these conventions but is not signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which is another international arrangement to fight the growth of WMDs.

Way Ahead

  • Expedited efforts have to be put in by the international community together with support from the nuclear-weapon states for guaranteeing a safer and peaceful world.
  • Biological weapons are of the greatest concern to mankind in the contemporary world among all the components of weapons of mass destruction hence requiring a stringent verification mechanism.
  • The only way to completely eliminate nuclear risks is to eliminate nuclear weapons from the planet.

Source: IE

 
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