Book discussion | Indian Nuclear Policy

India's first Prime, Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, laid the foundations of an elaborate atomic energy program in 1948, just a year after India's independence. Yet, it took Indian decision-makers more than 50 years to declare the country a nuclear-weapon state in May 1998. Once India crossed the nuclear rubicon, it has managed to transform itself into a major nuclear power. This short introduction provides a clear and succinct account of the evolution of Indian nuclear policy over seven decades since Independence. Situating India's nuclear behaviour in its quest for global status, demands of national security, vagaries of domestic politics and the idiosyncrasies of the individuals who led its nuclear programme, it explains how India's engagement with the atom is unique in international nuclear history and politics.

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Programme

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Registration 3:30 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. | Launch of the book • Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary of India 3:35 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Opening remarks by chair • Rakesh Sood, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation 3:45 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. | Remarks by authors • Harsh V. Pant & Yogesh Joshi 4:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Remarks by discussant • Lalit Mansingh 4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. | Q&A 4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.| Closing remarks by chair 5:00 p.m. | High tea

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About the authors

Harsh V. Pant is Director of Studies, and Head — Strategic Studies, ORF. He holds a joint appointment with the Department of Defence Studies and King's India Institute as Professor of International Relations. Yogesh Joshi is a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Stanford University. He has a PhD in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University specialising in Indian foreign and security policy.

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Speakers

Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary of India Rakesh Sood, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation

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The timing of this event is from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.