VidBodh · Current affairs
The monthly magazine, July 2026 · Global Affairs and International Relations › Global regimes and issues › Nuclear and arms control regimes and export control groups
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Global Affairs and International Relations › Global regimes and issues
हिन्दी — Read in HindiNuclear and arms control regimes and export control groups
The rules on nuclear weapons, arms and the export of sensitive technology.
All 3 articles shown; the 1 that changed from 1 to 31 July 2026 are marked.Show only these
SIPRI Yearbook 2026
Copy link to SIPRI Yearbook 2026Prelims
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) publishes a yearbook that estimates the world's nuclear arsenals.
What changed
30 Jun 2026Briefnewly addedSIPRI estimated India's arsenal at about 190 warheads, against about 170 for Pakistan and 620 for China, as of January 2026. For the first time it classed 12 Indian warheads as operationally deployed. It noted that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and Russia expired in February 2026 with no successor, which leaves no limits on US and Russian strategic arsenals. The Hindu, 30 Jun 2026: What India's 12 'operationally deployed' nuclear warheads really mean (opens in a new tab)
United States and Saudi Arabia civil nuclear agreement
Copy link to United States and Saudi Arabia civil nuclear agreementPrelims and Mains
The United States and Saudi Arabia civil nuclear agreement is a 30 year agreement the two countries signed on 22 July.
- Enrichment raises the share of uranium-235 to 3 to 5 per cent for fuel and above 90 per cent for a weapon, using the same centrifuges.
- The Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency allows inspections at short notice.
What changed
26 Jul 2026New
- Unlike the 2009 agreement with the United Arab Emirates, it does not bar enrichment or reprocessing, and provides for a two year joint study on enrichment in the kingdom.
- It does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the Additional Protocol.
The Hindu, 26 Jul 2026: What is the Saudi-U.S. nuclear deal about? The Hindu ePaper, 26 July 2026 (opens in a new tab) · The Indian Express, 25 Jul 2026: A United States civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia reopens the enrichment question (opens in a new tab)
IAEA refers Iran to the Security Council
Copy link to IAEA refers Iran to the Security CouncilPrelims
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) checks that states keep their nuclear material for peaceful use; its Board of Governors has 35 members.
What changed
10 Sep 2026Briefnewly addedThe IAEA's Board reported Iran to the United Nations Security Council, the first such referral in 20 years, over its failure to explain uranium traces at undeclared sites. The vote was 23 to 3, with 8 abstentions; the agency also cannot verify Iran's stockpile of about 441 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Hindu, 10 Sep 2026: UN nuclear watchdog board reports Iran to UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years (opens in a new tab) · News On AIR, 9 Sep 2026: IAEA refers Iran to UNSC over nuclear non compliance (opens in a new tab)