About CTBT

• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes. 
• It comprises a preamble, 17 articles, two annexes and a Protocol with two annexes.

Did the CTBT stop nuclear testing?

• Since the CTBT, 10 nuclear tests have taken place. India conducted two in 1998, Pakistan also two in 1998, and North Korea conducted tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 (twice) and 2017.
• The United States last tested in 1992, China and France in 1996 and the Soviet Union in 1990. Russia, which inherited most of the Soviet nuclear arsenal, has never conducted a nuclear test.

Which key countries haven’t ratified CTBT?

• Notably, for the treaty to enter into force, it must be signed and ratified by 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries, eight of which have yet to ratify the agreement: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States.
• In 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged these countries to ratify CTBT. 

Why in News?

• President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
• Russia said that rescinding the ratification of CTBT would “mirror” the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.
• The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it was never effective because some key countries did not ratify it.
• With the abandonment of the CTBT, the last remaining bilateral nuclear weapons treaty between Washington and Moscow is New START, under which the two nations used to regularly inspect each other’s nuclear facilities and limit warheads.
• Russia suspended the treaty in February. It is due to expire in early 2026.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/putin-signs-bill-revoking-russias-ratification-of-a-global-nuclear-test-ban-treaty/article67488989.ece