CURRENT AFFAIRS | 4 APRIL 2026
CLAT GK + DEFENCE POLICY & INTERNATIONAL LAW
What Happened?
On April 3, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned INS Aridhaman — India’s third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). Built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, INS Aridhaman joins INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (2024) in the Arihant class.
With this induction, India now possesses the capability to maintain a continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, joining an elite group of only six nations — the US, Russia, UK, France, and China — with this strategic capability.
Why INS Aridhaman is a Game-Changer
INS Aridhaman is significantly more powerful than its predecessors. Being longer in length, it carries 8 vertical launch system (VLS) tubes — double the 4 tubes on INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. It can fire the 750-km range K-15 missiles as well as the K-4 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (approximately 3,500 km range), both capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Constitutional & Legal Framework
Article 51(c) DPSP: Directs the State to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in dealings of organised peoples with one another.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Recognises 5 nuclear-weapon states (US, Russia, UK, France, China). India has not signed the NPT, maintaining it is discriminatory.
CTBT: India has neither signed nor ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
UNCLOS: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea governs maritime zones including the EEZ (200 nautical miles), relevant to submarine operations and freedom of navigation.
CLAT Exam Angle
This is a high-probability CLAT 2027 topic combining defence, international law, and Indian polity:
- Nuclear Triad: Land-based ICBMs (Agni series), air-delivered bombs (Rafale/Sukhoi), and sea-based SLBMs (Arihant class) — India’s three-pronged nuclear delivery capability
- No First Use (NFU): India’s declared nuclear doctrine pledges not to use nuclear weapons first but reserves the right to massive retaliation
- International Treaties: NPT, CTBT, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
- Maritime Law: UNCLOS provisions on territorial sea (12 NM), contiguous zone (24 NM), EEZ (200 NM), and submarine navigation rights
Key Facts at a Glance
| Submarine Name | INS Aridhaman (S4) |
| Class | Arihant class (3rd vessel) |
| Project | Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) |
| VLS Tubes | 8 (double the earlier 4) |
| Missiles | K-15 (750 km) + K-4 (3,500 km) |
| Commissioned By | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh |
| Nuclear Doctrine | No First Use (NFU), Credible Minimum Deterrence |
| Elite Club | 6th country with continuous at-sea deterrent |
Memory Aid for CLAT
Remember “TRIAD” for India’s Nuclear Deterrence:
- T — Three submarines: Arihant, Arighaat, Aridhaman
- R — Retaliation only (No First Use policy)
- I — Indigenous development (ATV Project, Visakhapatnam)
- A — Article 51(c) DPSP — international law obligations
- D — Deterrence — credible minimum deterrence doctrine
UNCLOS Zones — “12-24-200-350”: Territorial Sea (12 NM) → Contiguous Zone (24 NM) → EEZ (200 NM) → Continental Shelf (up to 350 NM)
Practice Quiz
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
