Consider the following statements : 1. The five permanent members of the Security Council are the only countries recognized as nuclear-weapon States under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 2, The term of non-permanent members of the Council is five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is correct. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) defines nuclear-weapon States as those that manufactured and exploded a nuclear device before January 1, 1967 [2]. This definition specifically applies to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5): China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While other countries possess nuclear weapons, they are not recognized as nuclear-weapon States under the NPT framework. Statement 2 is incorrect. According to the UN Charter and established procedures, non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years, not five [4]. These members are elected by the General Assembly, with five members replaced each year, and they are ineligible for immediate re-election upon the completion of their two-year term [4].

Sources

1. [2] Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Security in the Contemporary World > Security in the Contemporary World 69 > p. 69
2. [1] Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Ideas for the Teacher > p. 54
3. [3] https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1955-57v11/d29
4. [4] https://www.un.org/en/ga/62/plenary/election_sc/bkg.shtml