Nuclear Weapons: A 'One-Way Road to Annihilation,' Says UN Secretary-General

 Nuclear Weapons: A 'One-Way Road to Annihilation,' Says UN Secretary-General

This warning comes amid the Doomsday Clock moving one second closer to midnight last month. Introduced in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock serves as a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to self-destruction.

Current Risks Posed by Nuclear Weapons

• Heightened Global Security Concerns: Geopolitical tensions, a decline in trust between nations, and increased military spending raise the likelihood of nuclear conflict.
• Erosion of Disarmament Frameworks: Important treaties and norms against nuclear testing and proliferation are being weakened.
• Nuclear Blackmail: The use of nuclear threats to coerce opponents contributes to global instability.
• Expansion of Inventories: Countries are expanding their nuclear arsenals, and new forms of arms races, such as those in outer space, are emerging.
• Weaponization of Artificial Intelligence: The use of AI in weaponry can reduce human control, increasing the risk of accidental launches.

Non-Proliferation Efforts

• Conference on Disarmament: This forum focuses on nuclear disarmament, preventing an arms race in outer space, and addressing emerging weapons of mass destruction.
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): The NPT seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA serves as the world’s leading intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Tags : UPSC 2025 current affairs preparation, UPSC current affairs January 2025, UPSC 2025 daily current affairs, Best sources for UPSC current affairs 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs for prelims, UPSC 2025 current affairs for mains, Important current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC current affairs strategy 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs notes, UPSC current affairs PDF 2025, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 preparation, UPSC 2025 current affairs online classes, UPSC current affairs quiz 2025, How to study current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs magazines, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 prelims and mains, Current affairs updates for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs analysis, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 PDF download, UPSC 2025 current affairs important topics,