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Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)

06 Sep 2026

Tags: Prelims   Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context: 128 countries agreed on a text defining Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), potentially paving the way for negotiations on an international treaty regulating “killer robots”.

  • LAWS: Weapons capable of selecting targets and applying force without direct human intervention.
  • Concern: Raise legal, ethical and humanitarian issues, particularly risks to civilians and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
  • International framework: Discussions are taking place under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
  • Next step: UN member states will decide at November CCW talks whether to begin negotiations on a legally binding treaty.
  • Positions:Brazil, Ireland and Norway are pushing for treaty negotiations, while the US, Russia, India and Israel have been identified as among the key opponents.
  • Institutional role: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called for legally binding international rules to regulate autonomous weapons.

Prelims Edge: The CCW (1980) is also known as the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons, and addresses weapons considered excessively injurious or having indiscriminate effects.

Prelims Question

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS):

  1. LAWS are characterised by their ability to select targets and apply force without direct human intervention.
  2. International discussions on LAWS are being conducted under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
  3. The CCW framework is concerned exclusively with autonomous weapons and was established specifically to regulate emerging artificial-intelligence-based warfare.
  4. The International Committee of the Red Cross has advocated legally binding international rules governing autonomous weapons.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 — Correct: The defining feature highlighted in the article is the capacity to select targets and apply force without direct human intervention.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: LAWS discussions are taking place under the CCW framework.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect: The CCW predates autonomous weapons. It was adopted in 1980 and deals with certain conventional weapons considered excessively injurious or indiscriminate.
  • Statement 4 — Correct: The ICRC has called for legally binding international rules on autonomous weapons.

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