NuclearTestBan

Nuclear Test Ban refers to international agreements and norms that prohibit nuclear weapons tests. They aim to limit the development of new weapon designs, reduce environmental damage, and hinder proliferation.

The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) of 1963 prohibited nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater; underground testing remained allowed. It marked a major step in curbing environmental fallout and establishing verification mechanisms such as national declarations and seismic monitoring.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 and opened for signature the same year. It bans all nuclear explosions for military and civilian purposes. It has not entered into force because it requires ratification by 44 Annex 2 states and several have not ratified, notably the United States and China, among others. A robust verification system, the International Monitoring System (IMS), supports the treaty and is administered by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), including seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide sensors, plus on-site inspections once permitted.

Impact and status: The test ban regime has become a central element of international nonproliferation and disarmament efforts, shaping norms against testing even as underground tests have occasionally occurred. Proponents argue it reduces strategic instability and raises verification standards, while opponents question its sufficiency without universal entry into force. Ongoing diplomacy and scientific monitoring continue to advance the prospects for universal adoption and enforcement.