Weapons of Mass Destruction and Non-Proliferation MCQs 2026

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in

1. A 1963 ✓
2. B 1970 ✓
3. C 1985 ✓
4. D 1996 ✓

The NPT rests on three main pillars

1. A trade liberalization, sanctions and deterrence only ✓
2. B verification, export controls and sanctions only ✓
3. C peaceful use, sanctions and first-strike only ✓
4. D non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy ✓

The five recognized nuclear-weapon states under the NPT are

1. A India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea and Iran ✓
2. B United States, India, France, Israel and China ✓
3. C Russia, India, Pakistan, China and France ✓
4. D United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China ✓

India's status regarding the NPT is that it

1. A is a founding signatory and NWS ✓
2. B signed in 1970 and ratified in 1974 ✓
3. C withdrew after Pokhran-II tests ✓
4. D has not signed the treaty and considers it discriminatory ✓

Pakistan's position on the NPT is that it

1. A ratified in 1970 as a non-nuclear state ✓
2. B joined as a nuclear-weapon state in 1998 ✓
3. C has not joined and links accession to regional balance with India ✓
4. D signed and ratified the Additional Protocol only ✓

Horizontal nuclear proliferation refers to

1. A increasing warhead stockpiles by existing nuclear powers ✓
2. B the spread of nuclear weapons to additional states ✓
3. C improving delivery systems within one state only ✓
4. D civilian nuclear power expansion only ✓

Vertical nuclear proliferation refers to

1. A first acquisition by a new state ✓
2. B banning all nuclear tests globally ✓
3. C qualitative or quantitative expansion of arsenals by existing nuclear powers ✓
4. D civilian reactor construction only ✓

The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) was signed in

1. A 1963 ✓
2. B 1945 ✓
3. C 1970 ✓
4. D 1996 ✓

The PTBT prohibits nuclear weapon tests

1. A underground tests only ✓
2. B in the atmosphere, outer space and under water ✓
3. C all tests including underground ✓
4. D only atmospheric tests over oceans ✓

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted in

1. A 1963 ✓
2. B 1985 ✓
3. C 1996 ✓
4. D 2010 ✓

The CTBT has not entered into force primarily because

1. A IAEA rejected it ✓
2. B NPT superseded it ✓
3. C OPCW administers it instead ✓
4. D required Annex 2 states have not all ratified ✓

The proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) would

1. A ban production of fissile material for nuclear weapons ✓
2. B abolish all existing warheads immediately ✓
3. C permit unlimited HEU enrichment for weapons ✓
4. D replace IAEA safeguards entirely ✓

FMCT negotiations have been stalled mainly in the

1. A IAEA Board of Governors ✓
2. B UN General Assembly Fifth Committee ✓
3. C NATO Nuclear Planning Group ✓
4. D Conference on Disarmament in Geneva ✓

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in

1. A 1945 ✓
2. B 1968 ✓
3. C 1974 ✓
4. D 1957 ✓

The headquarters of the IAEA is in

1. A Geneva, Switzerland ✓
2. B Vienna, Austria ✓
3. C The Hague, Netherlands ✓
4. D New York, USA ✓

IAEA safeguards are designed to

1. A enforce NPT sanctions on non-members ✓
2. B operate NATO nuclear sharing ✓
3. C control missile exports globally ✓
4. D verify that nuclear material is not diverted to weapons ✓

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was formed largely in response to

1. A Pakistan's 1998 tests ✓
2. B India's 1974 nuclear test (Smiling Buddha) ✓
3. C North Korea's 2006 test ✓
4. D Soviet Union's first test ✓

The NSG seeks to

1. A ban all nuclear energy worldwide ✓
2. B verify CTBT compliance ✓
3. C control exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology ✓
4. D administer the Chemical Weapons Convention ✓

India obtained a waiver from the NSG in 2008 to

1. A engage in civil nuclear trade despite not being an NPT member ✓
2. B become a recognized nuclear-weapon state ✓
3. C conduct unlimited weapons tests ✓
4. D join NATO nuclear planning ✓

India's declared nuclear doctrine emphasizes

1. A first-strike preemption as standard policy ✓
2. B unlimited arsenal expansion ✓
3. C NATO-style extended deterrence for allies ✓
4. D No First Use (NFU) and credible minimum deterrence ✓

Debate over India's NFU policy often concerns whether

1. A India has never stated NFU publicly ✓
2. B circumstances such as chemical/biological attack or arsenal loss could lead to revision ✓
3. C Pakistan also maintains NFU ✓
4. D NFU is mandated by the NPT ✓

Pakistan's Full Spectrum Deterrence doctrine aims to

1. A match India's NFU pledge ✓
2. B deter threats at tactical, operational and strategic levels ✓
3. C eliminate all nuclear weapons in South Asia ✓
4. D rely solely on conventional forces ✓

Pakistan rejects a No First Use policy primarily because

1. A NPT requires first use ✓
2. B IAEA mandates preemption ✓
3. C it fears conventional inferiority could invite Indian aggression ✓
4. D China pressures Pakistan to reject NFU ✓

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is administered by

1. A IAEA ✓
2. B CTBTO ✓
3. C the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) ✓
4. D NSG ✓

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) entered into force in

1. A 1975 ✓
2. B 1963 ✓
3. C 1993 ✓
4. D 2001 ✓

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force in

1. A 1996 ✓
2. B 2021 ✓
3. C 2005 ✓
4. D 2015 ✓

Nuclear-weapon states under the NPT are obligated under Article VI to

1. A pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament ✓
2. B transfer weapons to allies freely ✓
3. C expand arsenals for deterrence ✓
4. D withdraw from IAEA safeguards ✓

NPT Article IV addresses

1. A mandatory disarmament timelines ✓
2. B the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy ✓
3. C ban on all enrichment ✓
4. D IAEA punitive strikes ✓

The Additional Protocol to IAEA safeguards provides for

1. A abolition of all safeguards ✓
2. B broader inspections including undeclared sites ✓
3. C weapons-only verification ✓
4. D CTBT monitoring only ✓

North Korea announced its withdrawal from the NPT in

1. A 1994 ✓
2. B 2006 ✓
3. C 2010 ✓
4. D 2003 ✓

Israel's nuclear policy is commonly described as

1. A full NPT membership as NWS ✓
2. B public NFU treaty ratification ✓
3. C nuclear ambiguity (amimut) without confirming or denying arsenal ✓
4. D complete nuclear disarmament by 1990 ✓

The MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) primarily controls

1. A fissile material production ✓
2. B biological agents only ✓
3. C exports of missiles and related delivery technology ✓
4. D cyber weapons exclusively ✓

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) during the Cold War assumed

1. A both superpowers could survive a first strike and retaliate devastatingly ✓
2. B one side could win a nuclear war cleanly ✓
3. C nuclear weapons would never be used ✓
4. D conventional forces were irrelevant ✓

The INF Treaty (1987) between the US and USSR banned

1. A all submarine-launched missiles ✓
2. B all nuclear testing worldwide ✓
3. C ground-launched intermediate-range nuclear missiles ✓
4. D short-range artillery only ✓

The US withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019 citing

1. A IAEA non-compliance ✓
2. B Russian violations and emerging Chinese missile capabilities ✓
3. C NPT expiration ✓
4. D OPCW budget disputes ✓

India conducted its Pokhran-II nuclear tests in

1. A May 1998 ✓
2. B 1974 only ✓
3. C 1990 ✓
4. D 2006 ✓

Pakistan responded to Pokhran-II with its Chagai tests in

1. A 1974 ✓
2. B May 1998 ✓
3. C 1990 ✓
4. D 2001 ✓

Extended nuclear deterrence refers to

1. A states extending test moratoria only ✓
2. B a nuclear state pledging to protect non-nuclear allies with its arsenal ✓
3. C horizontal proliferation to allies ✓
4. D IAEA technical assistance ✓

The CTBTO Preparatory Commission monitors compliance using

1. A IAEA safeguards alone ✓
2. B NSG export reports only ✓
3. C a global International Monitoring System (IMS) ✓
4. D NATO AWACS aircraft ✓

A nuclear hotline between India and Pakistan was established to

1. A implement NPT safeguards ✓
2. B coordinate CTBT ratification ✓
3. C reduce risk of miscalculation during crises ✓
4. D share enrichment technology ✓

Nuclear security summits (2010–2016) focused on

1. A securing fissile material and preventing nuclear terrorism ✓
2. B abolishing NATO nuclear sharing ✓
3. C expanding weapons testing ✓
4. D replacing NPT with TPNW ✓

Fissile material suitable for nuclear weapons typically includes

1. A depleted uranium only ✓
2. B natural uranium without enrichment ✓
3. C heavy water alone ✓
4. D highly enriched uranium and weapon-grade plutonium ✓

The Australia Group coordinates export controls on

1. A chemical and biological weapons-related materials ✓
2. B nuclear reactors only ✓
3. C conventional small arms only ✓
4. D cyber tools exclusively ✓

The Wassenaar Arrangement controls exports of

1. A conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies ✓
2. B nuclear warheads only ✓
3. C agricultural commodities ✓
4. D international migration flows ✓

South Asia's nuclear rivalry is often analyzed through the lens of

1. A stability–instability paradox and crisis escalation ✓
2. B purely economic competition ✓
3. C Maritime law disputes only ✓
4. D UN peacekeeping mandates ✓

A minimum credible deterrence posture seeks

1. A numerical parity with every global power ✓
2. B unlimited warhead production ✓
3. C a survivable arsenal sufficient to inflict unacceptable damage ✓
4. D first-strike dominance ✓

The 1968 NPT distinguishes nuclear-weapon states as those that

1. A manufactured and exploded a device before 1 January 1967 ✓
2. B joined NATO before 1950 ✓
3. C possess ICBMs only ✓
4. D ratified CTBT before 1996 ✓

UN Security Council Resolution 1887 (2009) addressed

1. A nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament broadly ✓
2. B Iran sanctions only ✓
3. C Libya civil war only ✓
4. D cyber warfare exclusively ✓

Dual-use technology in non-proliferation refers to items that

1. A are used only for weapons ✓
2. B cannot be exported legally ✓
3. C are exempt from IAEA safeguards ✓
4. D can serve both civilian and military nuclear purposes ✓

The concept of nuclear taboo suggests that

1. A testing is encouraged under NPT ✓
2. B proliferation is legally unlimited ✓
3. C deterrence never works ✓
4. D using nuclear weapons has become largely unthinkable due to normative stigma ✓