India’s \'No First Use\' policy may change based on circumstances: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Amid India’s increasing bilateral tensions with Pakistan, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hinted that India may abandon its ‘No First Use’ police on nuclear weapons.

Singh said, "It is our firm resolve to make India a nuclear power and yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of 'No First Use'. It is true that till now, India has strictly adhered to the 'No First Use' policy. What happens in future depends on the circumstances."

He made the major statement in Pokhran on the death anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, where India had in 1998 secretly conducted five nuclear tests.

A No First Use (NFU) policy refers to a pledge by a nuclear power not to use nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons.