India’s Nuclear Security

Nuclear security focuses on the prevention of, detection of, and response to, criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving or directed at nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities, or associated activities.

  • Nuclear security and nuclear safety have in common the aim of protecting persons, property, society and the environment. Security measures and safety measures have to be designed and implemented in an integrated manner to develop synergy between these two areas and also in a way that security measures do not compromise safety and safety measures do not compromise security.
  • Nuclear security together with nuclear safety and applicable safeguards is essential for enjoying the many benefits of nuclear material and other radioactive material in industrial, agricultural, and medical applications, nuclear energy, and many other areas.
  • The responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with the State, which has to ensure the security of nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities, and associated activities under its jurisdiction.
  • Each State aims to achieve nuclear security by creating its own nuclear security regime which is appropriate to that State.
  • The threat of nuclear terrorism has been recognized as a matter of grave concern by all States. States also recognize that nuclear security in one State might depend on the effectiveness of the nuclear security regimes in other States.
  • There is an increasing need for appropriate international cooperation to enhance nuclear security worldwide.

Cyber N-Attack

Three main forms of cyber-attack are particularly significant for nuclear security:

  1. A cyber-attack might be used to sabotage a nuclear facility
  2. A cyber-attack might contribute to a physical theft or sabotage attempt—for example, by confusing or disabling alarm and assessment systems, unlocking doors, or altering material accounting systems
  3. Adversaries might use cyber weaknesses to get access to sensitive nuclear information. Beyond items such as the facility blueprints and employee personal data hacked in South Korea, cyber means could be used to gain information ranging from nuclear weapon designs to details on nuclear security systems and their weaknesses

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