Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Why it Matters? 

  • India hosted the 23rd OPCW Asia Regional Meeting in New Delhi to enhance regional cooperation on Chemical Weapons Convention implementation. 

What You Should Know? 

  • The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) came into force in 1997 and aims to eliminate chemical weapons globally. 

  • The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is the implementing body of the CWC with 193 member states. 

  • OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. 

  • India is an original signatory to the CWC and implements it through the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) under the Cabinet Secretariat. 

  • In 2024, NACWC mentored Kenya’s National Authority under the OPCW Mentorship/Partnership Programme. 

  • Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was awarded the OPCW–The Hague Award 2024, the first-ever chemical industry body globally to receive it. 

 Indian Chemical Council (ICC):  

  • The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) is the premier national organization representing India's diverse chemical industry. 

  • It was established in 1938 to promote the development and sustainability of the chemical sector in India. 

  • The ICC represents over 80% of India’s $220 billion chemical industry, including segments like organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, plastics, and petrochemicals.