Question

The National Authority Chemicals Weapons Convention (NACWC) is ______.
1. An office in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India
2. An office under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
3. Part of the Department of Defence Production
4. An autonomous authority

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : An office in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India

The correct answer is An office in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.

• The National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) was set up as an office of the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.
• The National Authority will act as the “national focal point” for effective communication with organizations and other state parties on matters relating to the Convention and for fulfilling the obligations of the country.
• The Authority’s functions include regulation and monitoring the development, production, processing, consumption, transfer, or use of toxic chemicals or precursors as specified in the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, among others.
• The Authority is also empowered to issue directions and even close down facilities that violate the Convention.
• It can also collaborate with other countries to seek or give assistance and protection against the use of chemical weapons.
• The Central Government is vested with the power to constitute a necessary Committee to overlook the functioning of the National Authority.

• Chemical Weapons Convention Act:
  • CWC aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons by States Parties.
  • States Parties must take the steps necessary to enforce that prohibition within their jurisdiction.
  • As a state party to the CWC India enacted Chemical Weapons Convention Act in 2000.
  • In 2000, the Chemical Weapons Convention Act was passed by the Parliament which came into force in 2005.
  • India is one of the four non-elected Members of the Executive Committee (consisting of 41 members from all over the world) of the OPCW.
  • Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is also called as Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.