• A posture of “No First Use policy”: Nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere;

• Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage.

• Nuclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorized by the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.

• However, in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons;

• A continuance of strict controls on export of nuclear and missile related materials and technologies, partic¬ipation in the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty negotiations, and continued observance of the moratorium on nuclear tests.

• Continued commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapon free world, through global, verifiable and non-dis¬criminatory nuclear disarmament.

Insights into Credible Minimum Deterrent:

• The concept of “credible minimum deterrence” is the cornerstone of India’s nuclear doctrine.

• It is used in conjunction with the concepts of “No First Use” (NFU) and “Non Use” against nuclear weapon states.

• It clearly indicates that India envisages its nuclear weapons as only a deterrent merely for defensive purposes and not as a means to threaten others, that it is not in the business of building up a huge arsenal and that it will not engage in arms racing.

• The concept, however, also recognizes that for deterrence to be effective it must be “credible”.

• The prerequisites for the credibility of our deterrent in the context of our nuclear doctrine may be listed as fol¬lows:

1) Sufficient and Survivable nuclear forces both in terms of warheads and means of delivery able to inflict un¬acceptable damage;

Robust Command and Control System is essential for the credibility of deterrence.

• Effective Intelligence and Early Warning Capabilities always important in any conflict are critical in the con¬text of a nuclear attack not merely as a means to counter it but also for purposes of retaliation.

• The need for operational preparedness at all times of the nuclear forces in order for our nuclear deterrent to be credible is self evident.

KEY FEATURSE OF INDIA’S NUCLEAR DOCTRINE| GS ARTICLES

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