Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

The treaty recognizes 5 States as Nuclear Weapon States -USA,Russia,UK,France and China(also the 5 Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council(UNSC)

 Four other states are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons - India,Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel has had a policy of Opacity regarding its nuclear weapons program

Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.

On 11 May 1995, the Treaty was extended indefinitely. More countries have adhered to the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement, a testament to the Treaty's significance.

A total of 191 states have joined the Treaty, though North Korea, which acceded to the NPT in 1985 but never came into compliance, announced its withdrawal in 2003

Four UN Member States have never joined the NPT - India,Israel,Pakistan and South Sudan