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Late Ballistics: India tests Agni 5

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Monday, May 28, 2012 by



Image Courtesy: Wikipedia



India recently tested the Agni V "range of 5000 kms" and joined the elite club of ICBM nations. This is a great accomplishment not just because of the technological achievement but also due to the fact that it was achieved under a technology transfer embargo due to nuclear weapons testing in the past. The embargo however benefited the country in the form of self-reliance in the defence industry. This is a moment of great pride for any patriot but to truly understand the significance of any achievement, all the facts whether good or bad must be examined.  
If it were not for the embargoes, India would have achieved the status of an ICBM nation much earlier which would have saved it from a lot of territorial aggression from China. However, it is not too late as the ICBM certainly gives India a better foothold against China which is the dominant regional superpower. The ICBM will enable India to strike important targets deep within China.  
Where there is a sword there is always a shield; Missile shields together with satellite tracking system make a potent defence against ICBMs thereby nullifying their advantage up to an extent "an advantage if a missile shield is located at a potential target, which is highly probable".  Therefore the only option is to make our own defence strong, to pick up a shield of our own.
India needs to invest heavily in a missile defence shield of its own considering that it lies in a very volatile region of Asia "surrounded by Pakistan, China and Bangladesh".  
India needs to boost its information network by investing in developing indigenous spy satellites as critical information can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Already India has started taking a step in the right direction by investing in Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) which could be the solution to the "missile defence shield" issue. To put it simply, MIRVs are basically many missiles inside one which can effectively enable the targeting of multiple targets while also minimising the effect of a missile shield which will be unable to target all the missiles. 
What one can look forward to is the development of the Agni VI which will have a range of 10,000 Kms.
(PS: My conscience wants me to put one line in on its behalf "Do we need more weapons or more food?")

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Rise Of The Indian Tiger

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Monday, November 28, 2011 by



Image Source: OpenCage
INDIA AS A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE UNSC: IN FAVOR

In order to justify India’s inclusion or exclusion from the United Nations Security Council, we must first understand the significance of the United Nations Security Council.
“The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action. Its powers are exercised through United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
-WIKIPEDIA
As we can see, the UNSC is the body of the UN which deals with peace and security. Members of the UNSC can wield a lot of influence over world events and also gain significance as a strong world power. However, to be a member of the UNSC, a country must fulfill certain important criteria like being a strong soft & hard power, representing a large population, being a democracy, not breaking international laws, etc.

ECONOMIC STRENGTH
India is today one of world's fastest growing economies. According to International Monetary Fund data, India ranks tenth in the world in terms of the size of the nominal GDP which stands at $1.53 trillion and the fourth largest in terms of purchasing power parity which stands at $4.06 trillion. Likely to become the world’s fastest growing economy by 2012, India’s average GDP growth stood at 8.4 per cent from 2004-2010 and hence has the potential to become the world’s third largest economy by 2030.  India’s foreign reserves are the 7th largest in the world standing at $310billlion.
Hence, on the basis of its economic strength, India has a strong reason to be in the UNSC permanent members list, as such a fast growing economy has potential to influence world events and there is in a position to make decisions.

MILITARY STRENGTH
India is one of the few countries that possess nuclear weapons, which are the ultimate deterrent. Without a doubt, military might is a factor which enables a nation to keep the balance of peace in the world and India knows this and has built a strong defense system. After the People’s Liberation Army and the US Armed Forces, the Indian Armed Forces boats of the third largest active force with around 1.32 million soldiers in the active army and a reserve force of around 2.14 million ( a 2006 statistic). The Indian Armed forces are undergoing rapid modernization and expansion and plans are afoot to have an active military space program. Indian is also under process of developing an indigenous missile shield program.
Most importantly, India is a responsible nuclear power and has adhered to non proliferation as a part of its principle and not by force which shows great character and responsibility of a nation which posses such destructive power.


LARGEST DEMOCRACY & POPULATION.

Second largest population according to the latest census (17% Indians in world population). India is the most populated democracy in the world. It is a multi party republic with six national parties and 40 regional parties.
India is a great example to the world on how democracy can be implemented across such a vast and populated nation with such diversity of religion, culture and ethnicity. India can help the third world countries in implementing democracy and bringing up the condition of the citizens.
Therefore, it is illogical to exclude a country which constitutes a major portion of the world’s population and is also the world’s largest democracy from a seat in the UNSC.


CONCLUSION
India has more than proven itself in the spheres of economy, military might, non-proliferation, technology, leadership, democracy, responsibility, etc. It is time that the UNSC expanded the permanent members and reflected the changing world power scenario where newer players are becoming stronger and will soon result in a new multi-polar world order. India undoubtedly deserves a seat in the UNSC and this sentiment is echoed by other friendly countries. The age of the Indian Tiger has arrived.


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