Nuclear India: Revisiting Issues, Challenges and Threats

Report of the Workshop organised by

Department of International Studies & History Christ University

& International Strategic and Security Studies Programme (ISSSP)

NIAS

National Institute of Advanced Studies - Christ University Workshop

The International Strategic and Security Studies Programme (ISSSP) at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), in collaboration with the Department of International Studies and History, Christ University, organised a workshop titled “Nuclear India: Revisiting issues, challenges and threats” on 24 August 2017. Programme Session-I “Why did India go nuclear and What is India's nuclear doctrine” Air Marshal Vinod Patney SYSM PVSM AVSM VrC, Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi Session-II “India’s Nuclear Programme” Dr AR Sundararajan, Former Director, Radiological Safety Division, AERB “India’s Missile Programme” Prof Rajaram Nagappa, Coordinator, ISSSP, NIAS Session-III “China and Pakistan: Nuclear Challenges to India” Dr. Manpreet Sethi, Senior Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi “India and the Global Nuclear Regime” Dr. N Ramamoorthy, Former Director, Division of

Physical and Chemical Sciences, IAEA, Vienna, Austria. Following is a short report of the workshop, prepared by the students of the Department. Air Marshal (Retd) Vinod Patney, Dr. Manpreet Sethi, Admiral Ganesh, Professor Nagappa, Prof A R Sundararajan, Shreekumar Pullat and Dr N. Ramamoorthy led the workshop with their intial lectures. The introductory notes by Air Marshal Vinod Patney and Professor Rajaram Nagappa focused on the importance of understanding the issues and challenges faced by a nuclear India. The first session was led by Air Marshal (Retd) Vinod Patney, currently the Director of Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi. This session focused upon the topic “Why did India go nuclear and What is India’s Nuclear Doctrine”. He successfully traced down the history from 1945 till 1998. The dynamics within the political structure and the threats from India’s neighbors were

discussed upon. He gave brief explanations on the peaceful nuclear explosion by India in 1974 and 1998. Furthermore, India’s Nuclear Doctrine and its two major principles, Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use Policy, were elaborated upon. The second session began with Dr. A.R. Sundarajan’s lecture on “Evolution of India’s Nuclear Programme”. Being the former director of the Radiological Division of Atomic Energy Research Board, he enlightened the students and faculty on the role of nuclear energy in a country’s economic growth and infrastructure development. The scope for using nuclear energy in the generation of electricity and genetic improvement in crops was thrown light upon. The legacy of Homi J. Bhabha, a central figure of India’s nuclear programme,

was discussed at length. The development of Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Atomic Energy as the early pillars of nuclear programme in India was also dwelled upon. Another lecture of the the session focused on the evolution of India’s missile programme. Professor Rajaram Nagappa, Coordinator of the ISSSP, NIAS briefed all those present on the role and evolution of

ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in India. He further discussed the role of DAE, ISRO and DRDO in this evolution. Both lectures stimulated numerous inquisitive responses and questions from the audience. Several issues that were discussed in the Q&A session included the pros and cons of privatisation of nuclear energy, the avenues for dealing with nuclear waste and the need for greater safety measures to prevent nuclear disasters.

Third session started with Nuclear Challenges to India. Dr Manpreet Sethi, Senior Fellow at Centre for Air Power Studies, CAPS, New Delhi highlighted the nuclear challenges and threats faced by India. She stressed on the multi-dimensional nuclear threat the country encounters and shed light into the complex problems associated with it. Dr. Sethi said that the basic principle of India's nuclear program is deterrence, but having two nuclear powers as neighbors and the history of territorial disputes and wars puts India in a critical position. Where does India stand in the global nuclear regime? Addressing this basic question, Dr. N Ramamoorthy,

Former Director, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, IAEA, Vienna, Austria, traced the origin of India's Nuclear programme to its present contention over the NSG induction. The lecture analysed Dr. Homi Bhabha's role in institutionalising the nuclear regime and stressed on the key compulsions in India's NSG engagement. Dr Ramamoorthy raised few questions with this regard: Is the NSG waiver of 2008 adequate? and Does it cover all interests? In

the end, the lecture emphasised on the need to ensure sustained harnessing of the 2008 developments with regard to meeting India’s nuclear energy goals & reducing carbon footprint. The Workshop ended with a vote of thanks; the partnering institutions agreed to carry forward the initiative and continue similar interactions in the future.