NUCLEAR POLICY STEWARDSHIP PROJECT   There is a need to understand the larger perspective of Indian thinking on where it is poised today and what the Indian world vision is. Since the collapse of the Cold War, the Indian political leadership has determinedly, and with a clear vision sought to reposition India in the new international architecture. Before the end of the Cold War, India’s international engagements were constrained by ideological and other alignments. The repositioning of India, both economically, and in terms of demonstration of political stability, and even more, evidence of being a responsible state possessing nuclear weapons, has finally led to a new threshold of relationship with the major powers. The Delhi Policy Group has for some years looked at Indian nuclear policy from the perspective of stability and balance in Indian strategic requirements. DPG believes that while nuclear weapons cannot be wished away from India, restraint and responsibility in their management is a critically important need. As part of the process of correcting and influencing the nuclear discourse, DPG initiated the Nuclear Policy Stewardship Project, which is supported by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Washington D.C.   DPG Seminar on the 123 Agreement: The Road Ahead held on 22 August '07 in Casuarina Hall, India Habitat Centre.[From Left to right: V.R.Raghavan, O.P.Sabherwal, Ashok Parthasarathi, Manpreet Sethi]

The project aims to introduce the necessary focus and sharpness in the Indian nuclear debate. This will be done by aiming the project at policy-making thresholds and the strategic community in India. It will involve the policy-making establishment in the project by offering it a medium/platform to explain policy imperatives to the larger community of strategic analysts, academia, military officers and the media. This innovative approach would bridge the gap between the government and non-government parts of the strategic community. This will set a new trend in government sharing policy perspectives with the strategic community, thus, making for a constructive interactive exercise. The project aims to introduce the necessary focus and sharpness in the Indian nuclear debate. This will be done by aiming the project at policy-making thresholds and the strategic community in India. It will involve the policy-making establishment in the project by offering it a medium/platform to explain policy imperatives to the larger community of strategic analysts, academia, military officers and the media. This innovative approach would bridge the gap between the government and non-government parts of the strategic community. This will set a new trend in government sharing policy perspectives with the strategic community, thus, making for a constructive interactive exercise.   DPG Seminar, in collaboration with CSIS’ PONI, on Nuclear Weapons-Policy Options, 21st May ’07 [Left to right- V.R.Raghavan, Gurmeet Kanwal, Clark Murdoch, Derek Smith]

In order to introduce balance and objectivity in the frenzied arguments on the nuclear issue, DPG organised several seminars, workshops, round table meetings, interactive dialogue sessions and outreach programmes. The debate in India has been meaningful in its quality and depth. It also speaks volumes for the kind of freedom of expression prevalent in India, allowing for critique against the government and its leadership. The debate is also a demonstration of pragmatic thinking to which there are ideological dimensions and political party considerations. The technical, economic, political, ideological and strategic aspects of the nuclear issue form the focus of presentations and interactive meetings of the project activities. As part of the project end product, the publications offer a valuable record of an important nuclear discourse of the time in India. Click Here for: SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES STAFF Project Director: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) V.R.Raghavan Project Coordinator: Pradeep Rao Project, Publication & Programme Manager: Nidhi Bhatnagar Web Link: NTI: Nuclear Threat Initiative