April 6, 2022
Aparupa Poddar’s Supplementary Question on reason for low utilisation of the fund for startups in FY22
Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak on the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. This Bill is in line with our international obligation under the UN Charter of promoting international peace and development. The existing law covers unlawful activities relating to biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, and provides for integrated legal measures to exercise control over the export of materials, equipment, and technologies in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, and for prevention of their transfer to non-State actors or terrorists. Sir, India is a responsible nuclear weapon State and is committed, as per its nuclear
doctrine, to maintain credible, minimum deterrence with the posture of no-first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon States. The parent Act provides overarching and integrated legislation prohibiting unlawful activities in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. While reiterating India’s firm commitment to
safeguard its security as a Nuclear Weapon State and its undiminished commitment to global nuclear disarmament, the Act seeks to effectively translate, at the operational level, India’s commitment to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Sir, the Indian Government must view nuclear weapons as part of a comprehensive
national security strategy that includes diplomacy, arms control initiatives, and conventional forces to maximise stability and peace in the region. Cyber warfare technology is another trans-domain capability that is spreading
rapidly. India’s nuclear weapons-related systems should be ready to respond to cyber threats. As India remains particularly vulnerable to biological threats and has a history of hostile political conflicts, India needs to take a lead in ensuring the Biological Weapons Convention is effective in its aim at curbing use of biological agents or toxins. The primary focus of India at the Biological Weapons Convention should be to instil and participate in a scientific advisory board on the same lines as the one attached to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The board should have scientists representing various participating countries, industry, societies, and academics. Sir, I am just concluding.Sir, there should be an immediate reform of DRDO whose top laboratory is the Defence Research and Development Establishment located at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Since DRDO’s massive failures of its indigenous weapons programmes do not paint an inspiring picture, I would want the Minister to clarify how the Government plans torevamp production at DRDO
