India and weapons of mass destruction
Updated: Wikipedia source
India possesses nuclear weapons and previously developed chemical weapons. Recent estimates suggest that India has 180 nuclear weapons. India is a ratifier of the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. India is also a subscribing state to the Hague Code of Conduct. India conducted the Smiling Buddha nuclear weapon test in 1974, claimed as a "peaceful nuclear explosion", and the Pokhran-II test series in 1998. It is unclear if India has developed boosted fission or thermonuclear weapons. India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, considering them flawed and discriminatory. India maintains a "no first use" nuclear policy and has developed a nuclear triad capability as a part of its "credible minimum deterrence" doctrine. Its no first use is qualified in that while India states it generally will not use nuclear weapons first, it may do so in the event of "a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons." India's primary strategic concern is potential conflict with Pakistan, which also possesses nuclear weapons. India previously possessed chemical weapons, but destroyed its entire stockpile by 2009, one of the seven countries to meet the OPCW extended deadline. India also participates in the Missile Technology Control Regime, and Australia Group.