| Publication |
2014.
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| Summary/Abstract |
A nuclear doctrine review is on the cards. The BJP having promised in its manifesto that it will conduct a review would likely follow through, in the least to keep up its credibility The last review was done in 2003, when the earlier NDA government adopted the official nuclear doctrine. It is believed that the official, declaratory nuclear doctrine was largely based on the Draft Nuclear Doctrine of I999. While the UPA government that followed did not review (read or revise) the doctrine, this does not imply that it did not keep the doctrine under review. The National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), convened for two years, is tasked to review national security and, as part of this. can be expected to have engaged with nuclear questions. Its output has been kept confidential. Besides, the six monthly meetings of the Executive Council of the Nuclear Command Authority have found mention in the media. Therefore, it will only be fair to acknowledge that a lack of transparency on this score does not imply inaction. It can be inferred from the fact that the declaratory doctrine has not been revised that the UPA government. in both its tenures. either did not think it necessary to revise the doctrine or may have revised the operational nuclear doctrine even while keeping the declaratory nuclear doctrine in place and intact.
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