Revisiting India’s nuclear doctrine without revising it

India’s nuclear doctrine has remained largely unchanged for over two decades, even as its security environment has shifted dramatically. Since its operationalisation in 2003, China’s military rise has accelerated, Pakistan’s nuclear posture has evolved, disruptive technologies have reshaped deterrence, and geopolitical competition has become more multipolar. Yet, the doctrine’s core principles — credible minimum deterrence and a declared No First Use (NFU) posture — have endured, albeit with a specific provision retaining the option of nuclear retaliation following a major biological or chemical attack on India or Indian forces. The question is whether a framework crafted for the early 2000s remains fully aligned with the security challenges of the mid-2020s.