India’s nuclear programme

The essentials

India's nuclear programme began in the late 1940s under the physicist Homi J. Bhabha. Nehru supported the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes such as power generation and wanted nuclear energy for development. He opposed nuclear weapons and called for universal disarmament.

After China conducted a nuclear test in 1964, India's security concerns grew. The five countries that had tested nuclear weapons by then were also the permanent members of the UN Security Council. In 1968 the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was opened for signature. India refused to sign it, arguing that it was discriminatory because it allowed the existing nuclear powers to keep their weapons while banning others from acquiring them.

Key points

• India carried out its first nuclear explosion at Pokhran in Rajasthan in May 1974, describing it as a peaceful nuclear explosion.
• India also did not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) of 1996.
• In May 1998 India conducted nuclear tests and declared itself to have weapons capability; Pakistan conducted tests soon after.
• India's stated nuclear doctrine includes “no first use” and credible minimum deterrence, while continuing to support global, non-discriminatory disarmament.
• Foreign policy also shifted with circumstances: closer ties with the USSR after 1971, a stress on “genuine non-alignment” under the Janata government (1977–79), and later improved relations with the USA.

Exam tips

• Remember the years 1964 (China's test), 1968 (NPT), 1974 and 1998 (Indian tests).
• Be ready to explain why India calls the NPT discriminatory.

Common mistakes

• Saying India signed the NPT; it has not signed it.
• Mixing up Pokhran tests of 1974 and 1998.