India's Nuclear Doctrine

India has its own nuclear doctrine which affirms its commitment to no-first-use of nuclear weapons and not using these weapons against non-nuclear weapon states. The defensive nuclear doctrine has a command and control system under certain political authority. Land marks of India’s nuclear doctrine are- Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrence. A posture of no-first-use: nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian Territory or on Indian forces elsewhere. Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage. Nuclear retaliatory attack can be authorized by a certain political leadership only through NCA. No-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon state. 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. Continuance of strict control on export of nuclear and missile related materials and technology, participation in the fissile material cut off treaty negotiations and continued observance of the moratorium on nuclear tests. Continued commitment to the goal of a nuclear-free world through global verifiable and no discriminatory nuclear disarmament. The three pillars of India’s nuclear doctrine are: 1. No-first–use The nuclear doctrine states that India is committed to a no-first-use of nuclear weapons. The theory of deterrence and no-first-use go together. The first aggressive use of a nuclear weapon will be a confession that deterrence has failed and use of nuclear weapons was the only recourse left. It is globally recognized that nuclear war between two nuclear powers would not lead to any meaningful military decision beyond appalling losses to both sides. In these circumstances no-first-use is the most appropriate policy. 2. Credible minimum deterrence The doctrine states that ‘India shall pursue a doctrine of credible minimum nuclear deterrence’. A doctrine of deterrence is based on the premise that one’s capability to retaliate is adequate enough for the adversary to conclude that a first strike by him will invite retaliation that would cause unacceptable damage. Hence the adversary will refrain from taking the first strike step. Deterrence means that the adversary’s thought process is analytical in that he will take into account India’s ability to absorb a first strike and respond, assess the damage of this response, superimpose it on his own aims and objectives and then make a value judgment on whether the risks of a first strike are worth taking or not, in the first place. The concept of minimum nuclear deterrent will include sufficient survivable and operationally prepared nuclear forces, a robust command and control system, effective intelligence and early warning capability and comprehensive planning and training for operations in line with the strategy and the will to employ nuclear forces and weapons. The nuclear doctrine envisages a deterrent that has the capability of inflicting destruction and punishment to the aggressor. The principles of credibility, effectiveness and survivability will be central to India’s nuclear deterrent. The nuclear doctrine does not quantify the minimum deterrence. It calls for highly effective military capability. The nuclear doctrine stresses upon effective, enduring diverse forces which are based upon a nuclear tread of air-craft, mobile land-based missiles and sea-based assets. The key to the deterrence logic is that all players in the nuclear game abide by its rationality and act accordingly. Even if one player thinks differently, we run the risk of nuclear weapons becoming instruments of war rather than those of deterrence. 3. Nuclear command authority (NCA) On January 4, 2003 India revealed a three tier nuclear command authority (NCA) to manage its nuclear weapons. This board frame work was approved ion the nuclear doctrine prepared by the national security board set up after the may 1998 nuclear tests. The NCA comprises of (a) political council, (b) executive council and (c) strategic forces command. Political council is headed by the prime minister. It is the body which authorizes the use of nuclear weapons. Executive council is headed by the national security adviser to the prime minister. Its function is to provide inputs for decision making by the NCA and to execute the directives given to it by the political council. The executive council may comprise of the chiefs of defense services, the IIC chairman, the convener of the NSAB, the cabinet secretaries, heads of intelligence agencies and secretaries of ministers represented in the cabinet committed of security (CCS).The strategic force command(SFC)would be responsible for the administration of the nuclear forces and will be actually tasked with the firing of nuclear weapons.SFC is the second tri-service command after the first one in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was established in 2001. Indian's nuclear doctrine is the most responsible doctrine which aims at providing minimum credible deterrent. It provides complete elasticity in deciding; the number of nuclear weapons India should possess and classifies the emphasis on the survivability of the deterrent. Establishment of the NCA will add credibility to India's nuclear posture. Most significant aspect of India's nuclear doctrine is that it is intimately tied up with continued commitment to total nuclear disarmament.