Will India Change its ‘No First Use’ Policy?

Context: Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that in the future, India’s ‘No First Use’ (NFU) promise depends on circumstances. History: India initiated nuclear weapons development after its war with China in 1962. China carried out nuclear tests in 1964 and subsequent years. In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear tests at Pokhran, dubbed as a ‘peaceful nuclear explosion’. International pressure to make India abandon its…

India’s Nuclear doctrine and its “No first use” policy

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, appears to have altered a key pillar of India’s nuclear doctrine when he tweeted that India’s future commitment to a posture of No First Use of nuclear weapons ‘depends on the circumstances’. On the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, and in the nuclear proving ground in Pokhran,…

The great nuclear disarmament divide

Over the past six years, a concerted effort by committed States, international organizations and civil society to reframe the international discourse on nuclear weapons around humanitarian considerations has gathered significant support. Momentum is now building towards the negotiation of a treaty to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons due to their unacceptable humanitarian consequences. A global prohibition…

Dedication of Kudankulam Plant to the Nation

India Russia relationship has moved a mile ahead with the dedication of the 1st Unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. With 1000 Mega Watt, Kudankulam Unit 1 has become the largest single unit of electrical power in India. This also signals the joint commitment of both the nations to develop a partnership ahead for green…

NSG, NPT, MTCR, IAEA etc

What is NSG? Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. The NSG aims to prevent nuclear exports for commercial and peaceful purposes from being…

India eyes uranium from Africa

Context India wants Africa to relax Pelindaba Treaty so that India can access Uranium from Africa for its nuclear power projects.   Analysis India had already signed an MoU with Namibia aiming at the cooperation in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2009. But since Namibia became a member of Pelibanda treaty,…

India joins The Hague Code of Conduct

India has joined The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC). India’s joining the Code signals its readiness to further strengthen the global non-proliferation regimes. The government has also made it clear that this joining will not have any impact on the national security as well as country’s missile programmes. About HCoC: HCoC…

India and the NSG

Recently, India rejected China’s contention that it must sign the NPT to get membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, saying France was included in the elite group without signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty. All you need to know about the issue: What is NSG? Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear…

The fee for NSG membership

The Hindu News: China’s announcement that it intends to oppose India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group unless it agrees to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). For the past year, India had made admission to the 48-member NSG a focus of its international outreach, though membership has been a goal since the India-U.S. civil nuclear…

Nuclear Security Summit (2010 – 2016)

The 4 NSS held in this series were –  2010 – Washington 2012 – Seoul 2014 – The Hague 2016 – Washington How did this all begun? The nuclear security summit initiative began with an April 2009 call by U.S. President Barack Obama to hold a global summit on nuclear security in 2010 as part…