Consider the following countries:1.China2.France3.India4.Israel5.Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

1. A

   1 and 2 only

   The NPT recognises five Nuclear-Weapon States: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China—those that tested before 1 January 1967. Of the listed countries, only China and France are NPT Nuclear-Weapon States. India, Israel and Pakistan are not. Hence 1 and 2 only is the official key.

2. B

   1, 3, 4 and 5 only

   This set includes India, Israel and Pakistan, none of which is an NPT-recognised NWS, and it drops France. This option is not the key.

3. C

   2, 4 and 5 only

   France is an NPT NWS, but Israel and Pakistan are not; China (an NPT NWS) is omitted. This option is therefore wrong.

4. D

   1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

   All five would treat India, Israel and Pakistan as NPT Nuclear-Weapon States. They are not parties as NWS (India and Pakistan never joined; Israel is unsafeguarded). This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (a) 1 and 2 only. NPT Nuclear-Weapon State is a legal status, not a factual list of every country with bombs. China and France are inside that status; India, Israel and Pakistan are outside it. The 1967 cut-off date is the test. Options that add the three non-NPT possessors fail.