Pokhran II and Beyond

India started its nuclear research with the sole purpose of utilizing nuclear power for its technological and industrial growth. However despite her moral dilemmas and restraint demonstrated since her first test of a peaceful nuclear explosive (PNE) in 1974 a variety of factors led to Indias two nuclear tests on May 1998. In the wake of these tests National Security Advisory Board of India issued a Draft Report on Indian Nuclear Doctrine. The draft doctrine suggests that India intends to develop and deploy nuclear weapons based on the triad of platforms. The nuclear forces however are sought only to be minimum possible to credibly deter nuclear weapons use or coercion against India. Considering the imperatives of the Indian deterrence posture as per the draft doctrine and the state of her weapons and missile program an estimate of the number and type of weapons and delivery systems has been made. The information used in arriving at the conclusion is from unclassified sources.