ABSTRACT
Were India's ideal wish-list to come true, the country would be recognised as enjoying the rights accorded to a legitimate nuclear-weapon state: possessing nuclear weapons and conducting a nuclear-weapon programme; a seat on the UNSC; and importing nuclear material and power plants free from full-scope safeguards. This is, however, wishful thinking, even though India has already fulfilled the duties of a nuclear-weapon state by ensuring that its nuclear-weapon technology is not passed to other countries. To some extent India (along with Israel and Pakistan) has been recognised as a ‘threshold’ nuclear power during the course of the CTBT negotiations. However, none of the rights of a nuclear-weapon state has been bestowed on any of the three, nor are they likely to be.
