Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) convened the meeting in collaboration with India’s National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC).

• This regional meeting is part of the OPCW’s ongoing efforts to support the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
• OPCW is the implementing agency of the CWC.

About Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC)

• Genesis: In 1992, a draft Convention was formally adopted by the Conference on Disarmament. And, it came into force in 1997 
• It is the World’s first multilateral disarmament agreement to provide for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction within a fixed time frame.
• Parties: It has 193 States Parties
  • India is an original signatory to the Convention.
• Recognition: OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. 
• India & CWC: NACWC is responsible for implementing the Convention in India. NACWC was established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000.
  • In 2024, Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was awarded the OPCW-The Hague Award, marking the first time a chemical industry body anywhere in the world received this honour. 
    • The award acknowledged ICC’s contributions to advancing the goals of the Convention and improving industry-wide safety and security practices in India.
    • ICC is India’s oldest Chemical Industry Association.