US Policy on Arms Programs and the Indian Nuclear Program until 1974

Abstract

The Indian Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1948. India considered the nuclear program an important necessity that served two primary purposes. First, the program was an important component of successful development planning and electricity generation. Second, the nuclear program reflected the country's strength and prestige in the international community. Although India was suffering from an economic crisis, embodied by the food crisis, Indian leaders, since the days of Prime Minister Nehru, believed that nuclear technology was a fundamental issue for India, especially since communist China was rapidly moving toward possessing nuclear weapons. This matter became a concern for Indian politicians, motivating them to adopt a policy based on possessing a nuclear deterrent force to restore balance with China