India’s Chronic Nuclear Failures: A Global Risk Masked by Political Deception

India’s Ongoing Nuclear Security Issues

India projects itself as a responsible nuclear power, but this image hides a dark reality. For thirty years, India’s nuclear program has been hit by constant thefts, smuggling, and spying that expose deep system flaws. The October 2025 arrest of Mohammad Adil Hussaini is just the latest sign of this dangerous national failure.

A Long History of Nuclear Material Loss

India’s nuclear security problem is not new. For three decades, it has been a constant weakness. Analysts have recorded over 25 incidents and the loss of more than 200 kilograms of nuclear material. This pattern shows India’s security system is broken.

🔵 Persistent System Flaws: These are not accidents but show deep flaws in India’s security rules.

🔵 From Smuggling to Major Theft: Incidents range from simple smuggling to organized operations, showing criminals are one step ahead.

The Insider Threat and Black Market Connections

An alarming part of India’s crisis is the clear involvement of insiders. Employees at sensitive nuclear sites are repeatedly involved in thefts, showing a total failure in security checks. This has allowed dangerous materials, like Californium, to be stolen and smuggled to countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, feeding a cross-border black market.

🔵 Involvement Within Sensitive Facilities: The problem is internal, with trusted staff using their access for profit, risking global security.

🔵 A Regional Risk of Spreading: India’s failure is directly helping a black market that could supply nuclear material to terrorists.

Reports of Spying Against Strategic Assets

India’s strategic programs are also targets of constant spying. Plots have been found to steal designs for nuclear reactors, submarines, and missiles. The 2025 arrest of Mohammad Adil Hussaini is the latest case, which Indian agencies quickly blamed on an international plot.

🔵 Stealing State Secrets: The repeated attempts to steal technical plans show India’s key assets are under constant threat.

🔵 The 2025 Hussaini Case: This recent arrest was quickly framed by India as a major spy-catching victory to hide its own failures.

Politicizing Security for Internal Agendas

The Modi government’s handling of these failures reveals a cynical strategy. The timing of the Hussaini arrest, right before state elections and an FATF meeting, is highly suspicious. Indian agencies often use these events to blame their Muslim minority and Pakistan.

🔵 A Convenient Pre-Election Story: Announcing a “spy ring” linked to Pakistan right before an election is a known tactic to rally nationalist votes.

🔵 Using Incidents Against Pakistan: These events are used to build a case against Pakistan in global forums, distracting from India’s own security gaps.

A Weak Regulatory System

The root cause of India’s nuclear insecurity is its failed regulatory system. The main watchdog, the AERB, is criticized for not being independent from the government. This, plus poor security and low staff at key sites like BARC, makes theft almost certain.

🔵 Lack of Independent Oversight: The AERB acts more like a government stamp than a real regulator, so no one is ever held responsible.

🔵 The Grave Risk of Nuclear Terrorism: These failures raise serious concerns that stolen material could be used by terrorists for a “dirty bomb.”

India’s Two-Sided Foreign Policy

This security crisis is matched by India’s two-sided foreign policy. The Modi government publicly criticizes Russia and Iran to please the West, but privately buys huge amounts of discounted oil from them. Meanwhile, it continues to blame Pakistan and create disputes with the UAE.

🔵 A Strategy of Convenience: India’s policy is self-serving, siding with the US and EU in public while cutting private deals with those they oppose.

🔵 Criticizing Neighbours While Courting the West: New Delhi seeks deals with the West while blaming its neighbours for its own internal security failures.

A Contrast in Regional Nuclear Security

India’s long record of nuclear carelessness is in sharp contrast to its neighbour, Pakistan. Pakistan has a much stronger and more professional record of securing its nuclear materials and following global standards. India’s repeated failures show it is not upholding its responsibilities.

🔵 India’s Gaps Versus Pakistan’s Record: The evidence shows India’s nuclear sites are unsafe, unlike Pakistan’s strict and recognized security.

🔵 A Failure to Meet Global Standards: India’s inability to secure its own nuclear material is a clear failure to meet basic global standards.

A History of Ongoing Nuclear Theft

The scale of India’s failure is clear from its history. In 1998, police caught a politician with over 100 kilograms of uranium. In 2021, kilograms of uranium were seized in two separate incidents. In 2024, the theft of highly radioactive Californium showed the situation is getting worse.

🔵 Decades of Uncontrolled Smuggling: Major seizures in 1998, 2016, and 2018 prove this is a long-term, unsolved criminal problem.

🔵 Recent Thefts of Highly Dangerous Materials: The 2021 and 2024 seizures show the problem is growing, posing an immediate and serious threat.

Conclusion: India as a Global Nuclear Security Concern

This thirty-year analysis proves India has serious weaknesses in securing its nuclear material. The ongoing thefts and spying show India is a nuclear security risk with global consequences. The political blaming of minorities and Pakistan only makes the problem worse. This poses a clear threat of nuclear terrorism. International bodies like the IAEA must take serious notice of these failures and hold India accountable.