Relevance : GS Paper III
Why has this issue cropped up?
Recently, Defence Minister appears to have altered a key pillar of India’s nuclear doctrine-No First Use .
India’s nuclear doctrine
India’s nuclear doctrine consists of two pillars:
- “a credible minimum deterrent” and
- “No First Use”.
Restraint as a pivotal point
- Restraint has served India well in Kargil war 20 years ago.
- Raising the nuclear threshold gave India sympathy in foreign capitals.
- India’s restraint has formed the basis for its claims to belong to the nuclear mainstream —Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. .
Is revoking the commitment to NFU policy justified?
- Revoking NFU leave India’s doctrine more ambiguous.
- Ambiguity, in turn, can lead to miscalculations, by enemy country.
- Adhering to the NFU does not symbolise weakness as India is committed to a devastating response to nuclear first use.
- However, revoking NFU has led to a more muscular nuclear policy for India.
