🌑Knowledge Drop – 52: Biosecurity at the Brink: Why the World Is Still Unprepared for Bioterrorism | For Prelims: InDepth MCQs| For Mains, All G.S Papers: High Quality Essays
🧬 Biosecurity at the Brink: Why the World Is Still Unprepared for Bioterrorism
(Strengthening Global Biosecurity & Modernising the BWC)
🧫🌍🛡️Post :06 Dec 2025
Syllabus
GS2 – Global Groupings in India’s Interest
GS3 – Internal & External Security
Context
At the conference marking 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), India’s External Affairs Minister warned that the world remains “not yet adequately prepared” to counter bioterrorism, exposing deep institutional, technological, and governance gaps in global biosecurity.
What is Bioterrorism?
Bioterrorism refers to the deliberate release of biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins to cause mass illness, death, or ecological damage.
🦠 Potential agents include:
- Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
- Variola major (Smallpox)
- Botulinum toxin
⚠️ Unlike natural outbreaks, bioterror attacks are intentional, making early detection and attribution extremely difficult.
Biological Weapons Convention (BWC): At a Glance
🧾 Entered into force: 26 March 1975
🌐 Members: 189 States (including India)
🏛️ Administered by: UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Core Prohibition
The BWC bans:
- Development
- Production
- Stockpiling
- Transfer
- Use
of biological and toxin weapons.
It was the first treaty to ban an entire class of WMDs.
Why Is the BWC Under Strain Today?
Despite its historic role, the BWC suffers from critical structural weaknesses:
🔴 No Verification Mechanism
Unlike the Chemical Weapons Convention, BWC has no inspection or enforcement regime.
🔴 Weak Institutional Capacity
- No permanent technical body
- No scientific advisory authority
- Underfunded Implementation Support Unit (ISU)
🔴 Dual-Use Biotechnology Explosion
Advances in:
- Synthetic biology
- Genome editing (CRISPR)
- AI-driven bioengineering
blur the line between civilian research and weaponisation.
🔴 Poor Compliance with Confidence-Building Measures
Less than 60% of states regularly submit CBM reports.
India’s Stand & Domestic Preparedness
India has adopted a security-development integrated approach:
🛡️ Key frameworks include:
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)
- NDMA Biological Disaster Management Guidelines (2008)
- National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
India emphasises preparedness, detection, and resilience rather than militarisation.
India’s Proposed National Implementation Framework
India has proposed a framework focusing on:
- Oversight of high-risk biological agents
- Regulation of dual-use research
- Domestic reporting and transparency
- Clear incident-management protocols
This links biosecurity with public health, ethics, and governance.
The Road Ahead: Modernising the BWC
🔬 Establish a Scientific Advisory Board under BWC
🔍 Develop a verification & peer-review mechanism
🌐 Enhance transparency and data-sharing
🎓 Build global scientific ethics and capacity-building
Why This Matters
In an era where DNA can be edited faster than treaties evolve, biosecurity is no longer optional.
The BWC must transform from a Cold War relic into a 21st-century living security instrument.
🧠 IAS Monk Whisper:
“Weapons no longer need missiles. Sometimes, they only need microscopes.”
Target IAS-2026+: Highly Expected Prelims MCQs :
📌 Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic:
MCQ 1 | TYPE 1 — How Many Statements Are Correct?
Consider the following statements regarding bioterrorism:
1)Bioterrorism involves the deliberate release of biological agents to cause disease or death.
2)Bioterrorism is classified by NDMA as a natural biological disaster.
3)Advances in synthetic biology have increased the risk of misuse of biological agents.
4)Bioterror attacks are easier to detect than chemical attacks due to visible symptoms.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A)Only one
B)Only two
C)Only three
D)All four
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: C) Only three
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True – Bioterrorism is intentional release of biological agents.
2)❌ False – NDMA classifies it as a biological disaster, distinct from natural outbreaks.
3)✅ True – Dual-use biotech increases misuse risk.
4)❌ False – Biological attacks are often harder to detect early.
MCQ 2 | TYPE 2 — Two-Statement Type
Consider the following statements:
1)The Biological Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production and stockpiling of biological weapons.
2)The BWC has a legally binding verification mechanism similar to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A)Only 1 is correct
B)Only 2 is correct
C)Both are correct
D)Neither is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: A) Only 1 is correct
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True – Core objective of the BWC.
2)❌ False – BWC lacks a formal verification regime.
MCQ 3 | TYPE 3 — Code-Based Statement Selection
Consider the following statements regarding the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC):
1)It was the first multilateral treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
2)The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs provides administrative support to the BWC.
3)Review Conferences of the BWC are held annually.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A)1 and 2 only
B)2 and 3 only
C)1 and 3 only
D)1, 2 and 3
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True – First treaty banning an entire WMD category.
2)✅ True – UNODA acts as depositary and support body.
3)❌ False – Review Conferences are held every five years.
MCQ 4 | TYPE 4 — Direct Factual Question
Which of the following pathogens is considered a potential bioterrorism agent?
A)Plasmodium vivax
B)Bacillus anthracis
C)Mycobacterium leprae
D)Vibrio cholerae
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: B) Bacillus anthracis
🧠 Explanation:
Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) is a high-risk bioterror agent due to spore durability and lethality.
MCQ 5 | TYPE 5 — UPSC 2025 Linkage Reasoning Format (I, II, III)
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
The Biological Weapons Convention faces serious challenges in addressing modern bioterrorism threats.
Statement II:
The BWC lacks a verification mechanism and permanent technical body to monitor compliance.
Statement III:
Rapid advances in synthetic biology and AI have increased dual-use risks beyond the BWC’s original framework.
Which one of the following is correct?
A)Both Statements II and III are correct and both explain Statement I
B)Both Statements II and III are correct but only one explains Statement I
C)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
D)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: A)
🧠 Explanation:
✅ Statement II explains institutional weakness.
✅ Statement III explains technological evolution beyond treaty design.
Together, they fully explain why BWC struggles today.
