Draft Report of
National Security Advisory Board on
Indian Nuclear Doctrine
August 17, 1999

Preamble

1.1. The use of nuclear weapons in particular as well as
other weapons of mass destruction constitutes the grav-
est threat to humanity and to peace and stability in the
international system. Unlike the other two categories of
weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical
weapons which have been outlawed by international trea-
ties, nuclear weapons remain instruments for national
and collective security, the possession of which on a
selective basis has been sought to be legitimised through
permanent extension of the Nuclear. Non-proliferation
Treaty (NPT) in May 1995. Nuclear weapon states have
asserted that they will continue to rely on nuclear weap-
ons with some of them adopting policies to use them
even in a non-nuclear context. These developments
amount to virtual abandonment of nuclear disarmament.
This is a serious setback to the struggle of the international
community to abolish weapons of mass destruction.

1.2. India’s primary objective is to achieve economic,
political, social, scientific and technological development
within a peaceful and democratic framework. This re-
quires an environment of durable peace and insurance
against potential risks to peace and stability. It will be
India’s endeavour to proceed towards this overall objec-
tive in cooperation with the global democratic trends and
to play a constructive role in advancing the international
system toward a just, peaceful and equitable order.

1.3. Autonomy of decision making in the developmen-
tal process and in strategic matters is an inalienable
democratic right of the Indian people. India will strenu-
ously guard this right in a world where nuclear weapons
for a select few are sought to be legitimised for an indefi-
nite future, and where there is growing complexity and
frequency in the use of force for political purposes.

1.4. India’s security is an integral component of its
development process. India continuously aims at pro-
moting an ever-expanding area of peace and stability
around it so that developmental priorities can be pursued
without disruption.

1.5. However, the very existence of offensive doctrine
pertaining to the first use of nuclear weapons and the
insistence of some nuclear weapons states on the legiti-
macy of their use even against non-nuclear weapon coun-
tries constitute a threat to peace, stability and

1.6. This document outlines the broad principles for the
development, deployment and employment of India’s
nuclear forces. Details of policy and strategy concerning
force structures, deployment and employment of nuclear
forces will flow from this framework and will be laid down
separately and kept under constant review.

2 INDIANEWS © October 1, 1999

Google

2. Objectives

2.1. Inthe absence of global nuclear disarmament India’s
strategic interests require effective, credible nuclear de-
terrence and adequate retaliatory capability should de-
terrence fail. This is consistent with the UN Charter,
which sanctions the right of self-defence.

2.2. The requirements of deterrence should be care-
fully weighed in the design of Indian nuclear forces and
in the strategy to provide for a level of capability consis-
tent with maximum credibility, survivability, effective-
ness, safety and security.

2.3. India shall pursue a doctrine of credible minimum
nuclear deterrence. In this policy of “retaliation only”, the
survivability of our arsenal is critical. This is a dynamic
concept related to the strategic environment, technologi-
cal imperatives and the needs of national security. The
actual size components, deployment and employment of
nuclear forces will be decided in the light of these factors.
India’s peacetime posture aims at convincing any poten-
tial aggressor that:
(a) any threat of use of nuclear weapons against India
shall invoke measures to counter the threat: and
(b) any nuclear attack on India and its forces shall result
in punitive retaliation with nuclear weapons to inflict
damage unacceptable to the aggressor.

2.4. The fundamental purpose of Indian nuclear weap-
ons is to deter the use and threat of use of nuclear
weapons by any State or entity against India and its
forces. India will not be the first to initiate a nuclear strike,
but will respond with punitive retaliation should deter-
rence fail.

2.5. India will not resort to the use or threat of use of
nuclear weapons against States which do not possess
nuclear weapons, or are not aligned with nuclear weapon
powers.

2.6. Deterrence requires that India maintain:

(a) Sufficient, survivable and operationally prepared
nuclear forces,

(b) a robust command and control system,

(c) effective intelligence and early warning capabilities,
and

(d) comprehensive planning and training for operations
in line with the strategy, and

(e) the will to employ nuclear forces and weapons

2.7. Highly effective conventional military capabilities
shall be maintained to raise the threshold of outbreak
both of conventional military conflict as well as that of
threat or use of nuclear weapons.