India’s nuclear advancements have long been a point of contention and concern in the South Asian Region. While its nuclear weapons programme continues to expand, it has also inculcated the nuclear-powered submarine in its strategic defence. For this, the induction of India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant, into the Indian Navy in August 2024, marked a significant milestone in India’s quest for nuclear deterrence. However, the operational challenges faced by INS Arihant including incident, where a hatch malfunction led to seawater flooding sensitive compartments, raising significant concerns about the safety and sustainability of India’s indigenous nuclear programme. These concerns have highlighted serious issues not just regarding the technological capacity, but also the long-term environmental risks and socio-economic implications.INS Arihant forms a critical part of India’s nuclear triad comprising land-based missiles, aircraft, and submarine-launched weapons. Moreover, India considers this as a significant strategic advancement.
However, the incident that rendered INS Arihant inoperative for nearly 10 months raises serious questions about the safety of such highly sensitive and costly projects. Reportedly, the flooding of compartments with seawater resulted in fears of potential reactor contamination served as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with India’s indigenous defence technology. Such incidents are not isolated. In recent years, the Indian naval forces have faced multiple accidents, including fires aboard submarines and naval ships. These frequent events underscore systematic deficiencies in safety protocols and highlight concerns about the sustainability of India’s naval nuclear programme. The lack of advanced expertise, proper training and use of substandard technology could severely impact the program’s operational effectiveness. More critically, the safety of those involved in managing these nuclear assets.
India’s nuclear programme has relied heavily on domestically produced technology. While this might seem like a mark of national pride, the reality is more concerning. The indigenous technologies employed in India’s defence projects have often been criticized for their low quality and the country’s insufficient expertise in certain critical areas of nuclear and maritime safety. India’s defence industry has struggled to match the technological advancements seen in established nuclear powers, particularly in areas such as reactor design, weapon safety and submarine construction. The inability to implement internationally recognized safety standards or access advanced foreign technologies has left India with a significant gap in its nuclear capabilities. Furthermore, the reliance on indigenous technology, much of it still in its nascent phase, adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complex and hazardous endeavour.
Furthermore, the lack of transparency in India’s nuclear programme has only added to international scepticism. The absence of third-party inspections or consistent safety evaluations has left the global community to question whether the Indian Navy’s nuclear assets are operating under the most stringent safety guidelines? Given the potential global ramifications of a nuclear incident, such as a reactor failure or contamination of sensitive maritime environments, India’s approach to ensuring the safety of its nuclear-powered vessels remains a cause for global concern. In addition, the environmental risks posed by India’s nuclear programme extend far beyond the immediate threats of submarine accidents or reactor failures. With the increasing number of nuclear-powered vessels in its fleet, India faces a growing environmental dilemma. The risks of radioactive contamination in marine ecosystems are also profound. The oceans, which serve as critical lifelines for the planet, could suffer catastrophic damage from any leak or malfunction. These repercussions would not only harm the environment, but also threaten global maritime security.
In addition to the environmental challenges, India’s defence spending raises significant concerns about its social priorities. Despite spending billions of dollars on defence projects, including the development of nuclear submarines, India still faces stark socio-economic disparities. Approximately 140 million Indians still live in poverty. It is a staggering number considering the country’s aspirations to become a global economic power. The allocation of vast resources to the defence sector at the expense of social welfare programmes highlights a deep imbalance in India’s policy priorities. Interestingly, the Indian government’s focus on defence instead of poverty alleviation and public welfare has ignited debates about whether India’s nuclear ambitions are worth the trade-offs? A country with such a large proportion of its population living in dire poverty faces ethical dilemmas, when allocating large sums of money to projects. These projects may not provide immediate or tangible benefits to the majority of its citizens.
From a global standpoint, India’s nuclear programme presents a dual-edged sword. On one hand, the country’s development of nuclear-powered submarines and its desire to establish itself as a nuclear power are strategic moves to enhance its regional influence and security. On the other hand, the operational risks and environmental consequences associated with such a programme cannot be overlooked. India’s military ambitions must be weighed against the safety, environmental and socio-economic concerns that its nuclear pursuits raise, both domestically and internationally. India’s increasing reliance on its indigenous technology and its ambitions for nuclear deterrence are not likely to slow down anytime soon. However, the country’s persistent struggles with safety, technology quality and the social challenges it faces make it clear that these ambitions come at a steep price. While India may position itself as a rising global power, its nuclear program’s sustainability and the potential hazards it poses to both its citizens and the environment cannot be ignored. The international community must continue to monitor and assess the implications of India’s nuclear strategy while holding the nation accountable for the environmental risks and social inequities that accompany such a pursuit.
The author works as a Research Associate at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). (gul.arsal14@gmail.com)
