Give A brief Note on What is the Nuclear Doctrine of India

India saw its first nuclear test in May 1974 under the administration of the former Premier Minister Indira Gandhi. The name of the test was “Smiling Buddha”. Following this, the Pokhran-II test was one in the sequence of nuclear tests carried out between 11 to 13 May 1998 within the Pokhran test area. In the wake of the nuclear test, India’s recognition throughout the globe increased. India was the first nuclear-powered nation not to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). After the nuclear test, the international community put limitations on India after the nuclear tests because it meant the protection of the person with mental illness. India has informed the International community that India has a responsible nation and that nuclear warheads in its arsenal are only to protect the sovereignty and borders of the nation, not to intrude into any other nation.

India’s Nuclear Doctrine in 2003 and the characteristics 

1. The principle that underlies Indian nuclear policy is “No First Use”. Following this policy, nuclear weapons can only be employed in response to an attack with nuclear weapons on India’s Indian Territory or Indian forces in any other location.
2. India has to establish and maintain a credible Minimum Deterrent. This includes:

(i). Enough and sustainable nuclear forces can inflict unimaginable damage on the enemy.

(ii). Nuclear Forces must be operationally ready at all times.

(iii). Effective Intelligence and Early Warning Capabilities.

(iv). Communications of deterrence capability enemy.

3. If a nation invades India through a nuclear weapon, the retaliation of that country will be so vast and inhumane that the enemy suffers an unimaginable amount of damage and will not be able to recover quickly.
4. The power to engage in a nuclear war against an enemy can only be exercised by chosen representatives elected by the population because it cant be used for immediate harm and the protection of others from threats.

 i.e. the leaders of the country. However, the involvement of the Nuclear Command Authority members will be essential. This means that the bureaucracy in India is not authorised to make the final decision on the nuclear attack against the enemy.

5. Nuclear weapons cannot be employed against states that are not nuclear. This means India adheres to the doctrine of “Tit for tat.”
6. If there’s any biological or chemical attack against India and Indian police forces, India will maintain the option of nuclear attack as a response.
7. Continued strict control for importing missile-related and nuclear technology and materials, participation in the fissile material Cutoff Treaty negotiations, and compliance with the ban on nuclear tests.
8. India continues to stand behind the global movement to build a nuclear-free world and will continue to push for the idea of non-discrimination-free nuclear disarmament.

The Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) includes the Executive Council and a Political Council. The Chairman of the Political Council is the Prime Minister. It is the only body to authorise using nuclear weaponry.

Is India overturning decades of nuclear doctrine?

The country’s commitment to the no-first-use policy has been a tradition in place for a long time. Since 1998, when the nation became nuclear, New Delhi has rejected the notion of launching the use of nuclear weapons in any situation of conflict. According to Indian strategies, Nukes can be only defensive. That stance has made great diplomatic and military sense. The small amount of the Indian arsenal has ruled out the possibility of a first strike, and the nation’s pledge to a stoic approach, in turn, has helped establish its reputation as a responsible nuclear stakeholder. This has helped to ease India’s acceptance within the international nuclear system.

However, India’s insistence on a strict commitment to the no-first-use principle has faced challenges.

There is a growing consensus within the Western non-proliferation community in actual practice; New Delhi is already close to enunciating the nuclear policy. Experts believe it is likely that should India and Pakistan engage in the war, India could prepare its nuclear forces to strike before it is too late.

The second reason is that China and India are involved in a war of words over the Western Himalayas, where the Chinese army has cut off large portions of Indian territory. Due to the stark contrast between New Delhi’s traditional military capability and Beijing’s, publicly adopting the first-use policy could signal strength and determination on the part of India.

Conclusion

The Indian nuclear doctrine is an essential factor that determines nuclear stability within South Asia, mainly because the doctrine is generally thought to be moderate. Any indication of any change to the doctrine is a cause for concern. Indian views regarding the nuclear doctrine could generally be divided into two groups: those who agree with the current doctrine, the moderates, and those who want to modify the doctrine to enhance its aggression and expansion.