Formulation and Transformation of India’s Nuclear Policy (1944-1998): A Critical Analysis

The formulation and transformation of India’s nuclear policy from 1944 to 1998 represent acritical trajectory in the nation’s strategic and diplomatic evolution. Beginning with earlyscientific initiatives under the leadership of Homi J. Bhabha, India’s nuclear journey wasinitially driven by the vision of peaceful nuclear energy for development and self-reliance.Influenced by the trauma of colonialism and the idealism of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru,India emphasized disarmament and maintained a firm stance on the peaceful use of nuclearenergy. However, changing global geopolitical realities, regional security challenges, andtechnological aspirations gradually reshaped this approach. This study explores the key phasesin India’s nuclear policy- from its formative scientific and moral foundations to a pragmaticand security-centric doctrine. This paper aims to critically examine the domestic andinternational factors that influenced India’s nuclear policy over five decades. It also assessesthe role of key policymakers, the institutional framework of the Indian nuclear establishment,and the interplay between strategic necessity and ethical considerations. The study ultimatelysituates India’s nuclear evolution within a broader discourse on sovereignty, deterrence, andresponsible nuclear stewardship in the post-colonial world order.