Que : “India’s nuclear weapons policy is an expression of its past realities, which need to be reconsidered.” Critically evaluate the statement presented in the context of the need to revise the No First Use (NFU) policy.”

 Indian nuclear doctrine talks about maintaining Minimum Credible Deterrence, which follows the principle of ‘No First Use’, but it indicates the authorization of a large-scale nuclear response to a nuclear attack on Indian territory or Indian forces, not India’s weakness.

• Rationale behind the demand for a rethink on nuclear policy:

•  Expansionist tendencies of hostile neighbours: Various experts suggest that India needs to review its nuclear doctrine in response to the expansionist tendencies of China and Pakistan.
  
•  Retaliatory strike capability: Using nuclear warheads only for retaliatory strike is not wise, as our own capability is also significantly reduced after a first attack on us.
  
•  Global comparison: India is the only country that has chosen to adopt a policy of ‘No First Use’. No other nation in the world has such a Policy not adopted.
  
•  Deterrence: The public has raised concerns about India’s deterrence and ‘massive’ counter-attack capability, prompting calls for a rethink of nuclear doctrine.
  
•  Lack of Ballistic Missile Defence System: Need for a comprehensive and expensive Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system to protect against a first strike.

• Challenges in reviewing nuclear policy:

•  Stalled nuclear programme: India’s nuclear programme has largely remained stagnant. Therefore, we need to revise our nuclear policy to meet the current needs.
  
•  Nuclear stability in South Asia: It is often believed that nuclear stability in South Asia is largely due to India’s nuclear policy, which can be disrupted by changes in policy.
  
•  Cost escalation: The command and control mechanisms for the nuclear programme are costly.
  
•  Challenges for nuclear energy: Changes in nuclear policy may affect the ability to import uranium for nuclear energy production.
  

• The path to the future:
• Trust Reestablishment: The government should restore public confidence by issuing periodic statements on the maintenance and upgrading of nuclear arsenal and systems.
  
•  Ballistic Missile Defence System: While adhering to the nuclear doctrine of ‘No First Use’, the government should also develop a robust ballistic missile defence system to protect the citizens of the country.
  
• Global and regional dialogues: The government needs to play a role in important regional and global dialogues against nuclear threats.

                  India, being a sovereign nation, has the right to rethink its policies for strategic interest. Thus, a review of the nuclear doctrine is not a bad idea, although it should be based on multi-stakeholder consultations that embody the spirit of national interest. The same national interest is the basis for the development of a nuclear deterrent.