China’s development of an India-specific long-range rocket warrants a review of India’s No First Use Nuclear Policy. Discuss. (200 words)
Refer – Live mint
Enrich the answers from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· China is developing an India-specific long-range rocket that can fly over the Himalayas from Tibet with an electromagnetic propulsion system.
· Countries around the world are developing even more potent conventional weapons that fly at hypersonic speed and can accurately strike targets.
· But, India only has a limited number of Agni series of missiles that too is intended for nuclear weapons delivery, not conventional warheads.
· It thus leaves nuclear weapons the only option for India.
· But India has pledged no first use (NFU) of nuclear weapons and will use them if it is attacked first with nuclear weapons.
· India’s NFU is, however, qualified. India’s nuclear doctrine says that if attacked with weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological weapons, India will respond with nuclear weapons.
· However, it does not consider mass destruction by conventional weapons that strategic bombing can inflict as a reason to respond with nuclear weapons.
· Thus a review of India’s nuclear doctrine is necessary.
Pragathi 6 years
