The centre of gravity of global power is shifting to the Asia-Pacific. This present global nuclear order is under stress and in a state of flux. The non-proliferation regime is facing multiple challenges ranging from non-compliance and clandestine nuclear weapons development. The prospects of nuclear terrorism have increased.

An equality important development is the civilian nuclear renaissance. A constant source of tension within the global nuclear order is the need to reconcile their voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapons with the right to have access to nuclear energy. Several countries in Asia have ambitious nuclear energy programme despite Japan’s triple disaster of “Earthquake”. Tsunami and nuclear accident at Fukushima. These developments, thus, have brought the issues of nuclear security, nuclear safety, nuclear energy and the nuclear proliferation to the centre state of the global and regional nuclear agenda.

Asia has number of countries with overt and suspected nuclear weapons programme. The future contours of the global nuclear order would be greatly determined by the nuclear postures of the Asian countries and the responses of the Nuclear Weapon States to non-proliferation and disarmament.

The study The Emerging Asian Nuclear Environment: Implications for India seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the diverse nuclear challenges and issues. They are: evaluation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime: form non-proliferation to counter proliferation; the new global nuclear agenda; Pakistan’s role in the emerging Asian nuclear Order; China’s nuclear and missile programme with a focus on China’s proliferation record and China Pakistan nuclear nexus; Japan’s nuclear option and the East Asian geopolitics; North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme, and its impact on the future of Japan’s nuclear policies; Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapon programme; nuclear terrorism and nuclear security; nuclear energy renaissance; and India’s nuclear power programme particularly the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with various countries after the NSG waiver.

The book examines at length the evolving nuclear and missile environment and its over all implications for India, and particularly the manner in which it impinges on India’s security. The book project was complete with the financial support of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, but the views expressed in the book are entirely those of the editors and other authors. The department of Atomic Energy is not responsible for any errors and shortcomings that may have crept into the study.