THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 19 August 2019 (Unclear doctrine: On ‘No First Use’ nuclear policy (The Hindu))

Unclear doctrine: On ‘No First Use’ nuclear policy (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: India’s nuclear policy and its adoption process.

Context

•  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been somewhat careful in speaking of envisioning a change in India’s nuclear deterrence posture.
  Background
•  In place for 16 years, since January 4, 2003, when the doctrine was adopted formally, New Delhi has said consistently that India’s nuclear weapons were based on staggering and punitive retaliation, in case deterrence failed.
•  The retaliation to a nuclear strike, any nuclear strike, whether by tactical or theatre weapons or something bigger, would be crushing enough to deter the possible use of nuclear weapons by an adversary.
•  On the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, and in the nuclear proving ground in Pokhran, the Minister said two things:

1. The no-first-use has served India well so far, and
2. That what happens in future depends on circumstances.

Security a dynamic concept

•  It was the security environment in the neighbourhood coupled with the pressure brought by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty that forced India out of the nuclear closet and, at the same time, to adopt the no-first-use posture.
•  The structures associated with the doctrine, the command and control that can survive a nuclear strike, the redundancies that are in-built, the secure communications, have all been developed keeping in view the posture perspective.

Way forward

•  In a nuclear circumstance it is much better to convey the overwhelming nature of the deterrence than to keep the potential adversary guessing.
•  In this respect it is a good idea for the government to make public any periodic review in its strategic posture.
•  The no-first-use policy comes with being a confident nuclear power. For him to state the future is open is to say nothing and at once imply everything.
•  In matters of nuclear doctrine, it is important to be clear above all else. Nothing must be left to interpretation.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), consider the following statements:
1. It has a strike range of about 1000 km, is capable of killing multiple aerial targets, tanks and bunkers.
2. The missile has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) All the above

Correct Answer: B
Mains Questions:
Q.1) ‘No First Use’ is integral to India’s nuclear doctrine and leaves no space for ambiguity. Critically examine the statement in regards with India’s nuclear policy doctrine.