Need to Revisit India’s Nuclear Doctrine:
India’s nuclear doctrine, largely unchanged since its operationalisation in 2003, is facing renewed scrutiny amid evolving strategic, technological and geopolitical challenges.The Bangladesh-US Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic civil nuclear cooperation signed in September 2026 is part of the changing regional security environment, prompting debate on whether India’s nuclear doctrine should be revisited without being completely overhauled.India’s nuclear doctrine, based on No First Use (NFU), Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD) and Massive Retaliation, faces new challenges from China-Pakistan nuclear convergence, Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) and emerging technologies.India needs periodic doctrinal review, a stronger nuclear triad and second-strike capability, resilient NC3 systems, and flexible response options to maintain credible deterrence while preserving strategic stability. India’s nuclear doctrine emerged in the late 1990s. The 1998 Pokhran-II tests established India as a nuclear weapons state, while the 1999 Kargil War demonstrated that nuclear deterrence did not rule out conventional conflicts.The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) operationalised the doctrine in 2003, based on the 1999 Draft Nuclear Doctrine. The doctrine rests on the pillars of “credible minimum deterrence” and a declared “No First Use” (NFU) posture.
