ABSTRACT
India is perhaps unique among the nuclear powers in that its doctrine, strategy and capability remain discussed under a veil of secrecy so dense that making informed assessments of Indian intentions, force levels, capabilities or even threat perception is somewhat difficult. There is a degree of uncertainty regarding India’s capabilities which, despite the attempts of successive governments and their scientific advisors to clarity, remains to date. India has further consistently reiterated its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing and has tried to refute persistent attempts to question the quality of its nuclear deterrent and the size of its arsenal. India’s nuclear arsenal is evolving with the Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles destined to form the core of its land-based mobile increasingly advanced intermediate-range ballistic missiles / intercontinental ballistic missile force. Indian command, control and communications systems are reputed to be hardened to survive a nuclear attack and the effects thereof.
