Q. 24. Explain, how has India achieved the status of a nuclear power.

Or

Explain the principles of Indian Atomic Policy.

Or

Write five utilities and one importance of Atomic Energy.

Ans. Nuclear Power of India

Generation of Atomic Energy: Atomic energy is obtained from the disintegration of radioactive elements. Electricity is generated from this power. Uranium, thorium, plutonium etc. are main radioactive elements. Energy exists in latent form in these elements. According to an estimate, the quantum of energy that can be produced by one kilogram uranium is equivalent to the energy generated from 27,000 tons of coal. Uranium is a very valuable element.

Main Centres of Atomic Energy: The technological advancement in the direction of atomic energy development was made with the setting up of Tata Institute in 1945 and Bhabha Atomic Energy Centre in 1957. In the year 1956, Apsara Research Reactor was set up, and in 1969, the establishment of the Tarapur Atomic Energy Centre became the first Centre for commercial use. India has set up atomic energy centres at Tarapur (Maharashtra), Kota (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh). Kakrapara (Gujarat) and Kaiga.

Utilisation of Atomic Energy : Atomic energy is a boon when put to use for development and peaceful purposes. Atomic energy is being put to use in the sectors of agriculture, treatment, industry etc. Atomic explosions are made to use for construction of canals, dams and mines. Its use for making destructive weapons is wrong.

Atomic Policy of India : The Atomic policy of India can be understood in the context of the basic principles of its foreign policy. The three basic principles of the foreign policy of India are national security, economic development and world situation. Besides this, India believes in opposing the policies of colonialism, empire building apartheid, and believes in co-existence, friendly relations with all nations, international peace and cordial relations. The aim of the Atomic Policy of India is to ensure security and development of the country and also to see that a sense of mutual co-operation, understanding and peace prevails in the world. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, reiterated at several occasions the commitment of not making an atom bomb. Considering the security of the country of paramount importance, Smt. Indira Gandhi started to reconsider the atomic policy of the country. In 1974, Indira Gandhi conducted a peaceful nuclear test in Pokhran (Rajasthan).

Atomic Policy in the Decade of 1980 : Due to development of missiles in the decade of 1980, India brought a major change in its Atomic policy. In this context, the Integrated Guided Missile Programme which began in the year 1983, is very important. The eminent scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was made the Chairman of this programme. Under the programme, the missiles that India made are : Prithvi, Trishul, Naag and Akash.

Three organisations have been set up at the international level to check proliferation of Atomic weapons: Partial Moscow Atomic Test Ban Treaty (P.T.B.T.) 1963, Nuclear Proliferation Ban Treaty (N.P.T.) 1968 and Comprehensive Atomic Test Ban Treaty (C.T.B.T.) 1996.

Atomic Policy in the decade of 1990 : In the decade of 1990, there came a change in the Indian Atomic Policy, because as per reliable sources, India came to know that Pakistan had made the nuclear bomb. India started thinking to conduct nuclear tests to strengthen the defence requirement, achieve self-reliance in the matter of self-defence and save herself from international threats. On 11th May, 1998, India conducted three continuous underground tests in Pokhran. After the test, the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared, “We have become a nation of powerful nuclear capacity." He assured that India will not make use of the atomic weapons against any country, but for self-defence.

In fact, India conducted these tests because countries adjoining borders of India had nuclear weapons and missiles. Therefore, it became necessary for India to intensify its defence system and to become politically and diplomatically powerful under international circumstances. India has always been a peace loving country and it has not developed the atomic power to interfere in other countries' affairs or to establish its supremacy over others.