India is neither a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) nor the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

India operates 22 nuclear reactors and plans to place 14 of these under civil control by 2014 as part of a nuclear cooperation agreement with the US, hence reserving the other 8 reactors for military use, outside any international safeguards agreements. India plans to expand its nuclear power generating capacity and approval has been given for eight new nuclear reactors.

India is well on the way to becoming a fully fledged nuclear power, currently with an estimated arsenal of 40 to 50 nuclear warheads deliverable by land based missiles and a variety of aircraft. One source stated that India was spending USD$2,000 million a year to develop and improve its nuclear capabilities.