Why did the two superpowers pursue arms control?

The correct answer is Option (4) → Both did not want to give up nuclear weapons.

Option (1) Both did not sign the Biological Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention — Incorrect. These are disarmament treaties: the 1972 BWC and the 1997 CWC banned the production and possession of these weapons, and both conventions included all the great powers.

Option (2) Both did not want to surrender their right to produce new technology for cyber warfare — Incorrect. Cyber warfare means attacks on another country’s computer networks and digital systems. Arms control between the superpowers dealt with weapons of mass destruction, above all nuclear weapons, not with such technology.

Option (3) The Strategic Arms Regulation Talk between the two powers were going on during cold war era — Incorrect. Treaties such as SALT II and START were the results of arms control, not the reason the superpowers pursued it.

Option (4) Both did not want to give up nuclear weapons. — Correct. Disarmament requires states to give up certain kinds of weapons. The superpowers did not want to give up the third type of weapons of mass destruction, namely, nuclear weapons, so they pursued arms control, which only regulates the acquisition or development of weapons.

Note: The concept in Option (2), ‘cyber warfare’, is not in NCERT (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.