Question

Highlight any four important features of the Nuclear Policy of India.

Hint:

The Indian doctrine is based on credible minimum deterrence and no first use.
Add civilian control of weapons and peaceful use of nuclear energy to complete four features.

Answer 1

Step 1: Background:
India tested nuclear devices in 1974 and again in May 1998 at Pokhran. After that India announced its nuclear doctrine.
The question asks for four features of this policy.

Step 2: Feature 1: Credible minimum deterrence:
India keeps only that much nuclear force which is enough to stop an enemy from attacking.
India does not enter any arms race to build huge stocks.

Step 3: Feature 2: No first use:
India will never be the first to use nuclear weapons.
These weapons will be used only to answer a nuclear attack on India or its forces.

Step 4: Feature 3: Civilian control:
The decision to use nuclear weapons rests with the civilian political leadership, not with the army.
This is led by the Prime Minister through the Nuclear Command Authority.

Step 5: Feature 4: Peaceful use and support to disarmament:
India uses nuclear energy for peaceful purposes such as power generation.
India supports global nuclear disarmament and has refused to sign the NPT and CTBT, as it finds them discriminatory.

Final Answer:
Four features of the nuclear policy of India are credible minimum deterrence, no first use, civilian control over the weapons, and the use of nuclear energy for peace with support to disarmament.