India won’t bow to nuclear blackmail, Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan said on Tuesday, asserting that the military must be ready to respond to nuclear and biological threats.
The Army, he said, must also be ready to respond to "low-probability but high-impact nuclear emergencies".
Speaking at a scientific session held as part of the 100th Raising Day celebrations of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantt, General Chauhan said that while the possibility of nuclear weapons use in the Indian context remains low, it is necessary to factor it into security planning.
He said radiological contamination would require separate treatment protocols, and training must include these aspects to ensure operational readiness.
Referring to recent developments, he mentioned that following Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister had made it clear that nuclear blackmail would not deter India. Preparedness against such threats, he said, is an important element of deterrence.
General Chauhan further said that biological threats, whether arising from deliberate action, accidents, or natural causes, are expected to rise in the future.
"The lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have shown the need for updated and specialised treatment protocols to deal with infectious disease outbreaks," he said. The nursing force, according to him, will play a central role in responding to such scenarios and must be trained accordingly.
The Chief of Defence Staff said the Military Nursing Service has been a consistent part of the armed forces’ medical infrastructure and has served in various operational and humanitarian environments. The nurses are not only central to delivering medical care but also to providing comfort and support during difficult times, he added.
He also noted that the focus must not only remain on developing professional capabilities, but also on ensuring the psychological well-being of medical staff, including nurses. According to him, those who provide care also require care, and emotional support systems should be part of institutional planning.
General Chauhan said the Military Nursing Service is currently the only organisation in the armed forces structured to function jointly across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He said nurses can be posted across all three services without administrative or structural hindrance, setting an example of the kind of jointness the armed forces must aim for in other areas as well.
The Military Nursing Service was established in 1926. It is one of the oldest uniformed medical services in the country and continues to serve across operational, maritime, aerial, and humanitarian missions.
