CBRN Security: Assessing India’s Preparedness

The term CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) refers to four specific categories of hazardous agents that pose severe threats to human security, national defence, and global stability. These threats can occur either as an accident, or happen naturally, or as a deliberate action.

Illustration by The Geostrata

Each of these occurrences has its own specialised response mechanism and security framework. Over the past few decades, the threat of CBRN incidents has seen a significant surge. The rise is essentially due to factors such as rapid industrialisation, technological advancements, and the proliferation of hazardous materials by state and non-state actors.

CBRN security is crucial as it basically represents the act of preventing, detecting, and responding to such threats through policy frameworks, technological solutions, operational preparedness, and inter-agency coordination. Effective CBRN risk mitigation requires collaboration between government agencies, military institutions, scientific research bodies, first responders, and international organisations.

THE CONCEPT OF CBRN SECURITY

CBRN security encompasses preventive, protective, and responsive measures designed to mitigate the risks posed by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

It primarily contains risk prevention, which is done by strengthening border security, intelligence gathering, and international non-proliferation regimes to prevent unauthorised access to CBRN materials. Then comes threat detection. Threat detection is generally done by deploying effective early warning systems, AI-based surveillance, and sensor technologies used for real-time threat identification.

CBRN security calls for emergency preparedness as well, like training first responders, hospitals, and law enforcement in CBRN decontamination and response protocols becomes really significant to tackle CBRN threats.

It all boils down to crisis management strategies by countries. Countries do that by developing national action plans to handle CBRN incidents efficiently. They focus on minimising casualties and infrastructure damage. International cooperation becomes a vantage point for countries to tackle such situations. Collaboration with global agencies like the IAEA, WHO, OPCW, and INTERPOL to ensure compliance with international treaties and safety standards is an effective strategy.

INDIA’S CBRN SECURITY STRATEGY

India’s National Disaster Management Policy guides its CBRN security strategy. Defence preparedness and global commitments under treaties like the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) also shape India’s CBRN security landscape. However, gaps in inter-agency coordination, technology integration, and public awareness remain key challenges for India.

India’s geopolitical vulnerabilities, industrial expansion, and increasing urbanisation has made it more susceptible to CBRN threats. Hence, strengthening the CBRN security strategy is the need of the hour. India is witnessing a rise in regional tensions. Border conflicts and evolving security threats from neighbouring countries increase the risk of CBRN warfare and proxy attacks.

Industrial growth and urbanisation have led to an expansion in the development of nuclear power, biotechnology, and chemical industries. This raises the likelihood of accidents and targeted sabotage.

Terrorism and asymmetric threats also remain a major thorn in the path of India. The past terror attacks in India (e.g., 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pulwama attack), has increased the need of preparedness against CBRN terrorism. Lessons from COVID-19 and past pandemics show the importance of public health security. There is a need for better biodefense mechanisms and health infrastructure in India, to tackle such incidents more efficiently, in the future.

HISTORICAL BASIS OF CBRN THREATS IN INDIA

Historically, India has witnessed major incidents related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards. These incidents have exposed the gaps in policy, preparedness, and response mechanisms of India. Some of the notable events of CBRN threat include: 

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984): One of the worst industrial disasters in the history of the country. Hazardous gas, methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked from a Union Carbide plant in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The event had caused over 15,000 deaths and thousands of permanent injuries (DiGiovanni, 1999). The incident exposed regulatory failures, poor industrial safety measures, and inadequate emergency response mechanisms in India. 

The 2001 Anthrax Scare: Just after the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, India reassessed its biosecurity vulnerabilities. Laboratory safety and bioterrorism preparedness were given the highest priority. No major attack occurred in India with regard to Anthrax but the event raised concerns about bioterrorism threats from state and non-state actors (Betts, 2010). 

The Kaiga Nuclear Plant Incident (2009): Traces of radioactive tritium were found in a water cooler at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station. This event raised concerns about the threats of internal sabotage, nuclear sabotage, and the overall radiological security landscape of India. Authorities ruled out the possibility of the involvement of terrorists in this case but the incident showed the need for stronger nuclear facility security protocols (Subramanian, 2018). 

Visakhapatnam Gas Leak (2020): Styrene gas leaked from the LG Polymers plant in Andhra Pradesh, which led to multiple fatalities and severe respiratory issues among local residents.

Continued weaknesses in India’s chemical industry regulations and disaster response frameworks were the primary reasons behind this event (Kumar & Raj, 2020). 

These events reflect the structural, policy, and operational gaps in India’s CBRN security

framework, which necessitates a comprehensive strategy for risk mitigation.  

ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING CBRN SECURITY LANDSCAPE

In response to these challenges, India has taken progressive steps to strengthen its CBRN security architecture. Several national institutions like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been provided an additional mandate to enhance India’s CBRN preparedness, emergency response, and policy coordination.

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NDMA) GUIDELINES ON CBRN DISASTERS 

The NDMA Guidelines on CBRN Disasters are the primary policy framework which deals with India’s CBRN Security preparedness and response. The guidelines focus on a structured multi-agency coordination mechanism to manage CBRN incidents through several mechanisms.

The document suggests setting up a National Executive Committee (NEC), which will formulate and oversee the national disaster management policies. There is a provision to set up State and District Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs and DDMAs) as well, to ensure that the preparedness seeps down to local levels.

The guidelines also have a provision to conduct first responder training programs for National Disaster Relief Forces (NDRF), emergency personnel, and medical professionals. The framework is based on a hierarchical disaster management structure, which involves national, state, and district authorities to ensure decentralised response capabilities. There is a provision for early warning and surveillance systems, with an emphasis on real-time detection of chemical and radiological threats.  

The NDMA guidelines try to encompass several aspects of CBRN security like risk reduction measures, response protocols, and capacity-building initiatives, emphasising early detection, rapid response, and public awareness programs.

The effectiveness of such measures is hampered by fragmented implementation, insufficient coordination between civilian and defence agencies, and inadequate real-time surveillance systems. There is a major lack of coordination between the organisation and the district and local authorities. These authorities often lack the expertise and resources needed to enforce the guidelines and frameworks, effectively.

There is a limited scope of civilian awareness programs which increases the vulnerability to CBRN disasters. Weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms also contribute to the issue, as there is no standardised process for evaluating the effectiveness of state-level CBRN preparedness programs. Overall, while the NDMA guidelines offer a comprehensive policy vision, gaps in execution weaken India’s ability to respond to large-scale CBRN emergencies.  

DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (DRDO) REPORTS ON CBRN DEFENCE

The DRDO plays a crucial role in developing CBRN defence technologies. The reports and works of the DRDO on CBRN defence show certain developments in chemical and radiological detection systems, like the Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM) and Radiation Detection Systems, deployed at critical infrastructure sites.

The reports also highlight the advancements in Protective equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and CBRN-resistant suits for military and emergency responders, and decontamination technologies such as portable decontamination chambers and biological agent neutralisation systems.

Although these technological developments and innovations exist, the scope of their large-scale deployment and integration into civilian emergency response frameworks remains limited. DRDO’s research is mainly defence-oriented, which results in minimal coordination with civilian agencies like NDMA and AERB.

There is a huge structural and operational challenge which remains unnoticed. There is a significant lack of civilian-military integration. The slow deployment of technology has been an issue, too.

Many CBRN technologies of DRDO remain in prototype stages, with limited large-scale deployment in critical infrastructure sites. CBRN research and development faces significant budgetary constraints. Insufficient funding has led to a delay in innovation and infrastructure development. All these reasons have contributed to the lack of impact of DRDO’s contribution in India’s civilian disaster management, while it fairs comparatively well in the military’s CBRN preparedness.  

ATOMIC ENERGY REGULATORY BOARD (AERB) REPORT 2020 ATOMIC ENERGY

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Report 2020 deals with the key concerns regarding the radiological and nuclear aspect of CBRN security in India. The report highlights concerns regarding the vulnerabilities of nuclear power plants and radiological facilities, to accidental leaks and sabotage; real-time monitoring of radiological materials, which remains inconsistent across different states, and inadequacy of the training programs of first responders in emergency procedures.

The report suggests a strict regulatory oversight of nuclear facilities and deployment of radiation detection systems at high-risk locations like nuclear plants, ports, and border checkpoints. AERB Report of 2020 also provides emergency response protocols for nuclear disasters, such as evacuation plans and decontamination procedures.

The findings of the AERB Reports 2020 show the urgent need for improvement in risk assessment strategies, stricter regulatory enforcement, and enhanced security measures at nuclear facilities. There are gaps in surveillance as India lacks a real-time nationwide radiological monitoring system, making it difficult to detect illicit trafficking of radioactive materials.

There is a gross inadequacy in first responder training as many local emergency response teams lack specialised training in handling radiological incidents. This has led to delays and inefficiency in responses.

The report also exposes a gap in coordination with international agencies. Unlike the IAEA-compliant countries, India does not have a centralised radiological risk assessment mechanism which integrates global databases. These glaring gaps show India’s vulnerability to nuclear security risks, including nuclear accidents, terrorism, and cross-border radiological threats.

Although these institutional frameworks are active, India’s CBRN security landscape faces several operational, regulatory, and technological challenges. These can be mend by policy reforms, introduction of advanced technologies, and international collaboration with developed countries and IOs. 

CBRN threats in India are constantly evolving in type, scale, and dynamics. They are heavily influenced by global security dynamics, current technological advancements, and strategic rivalries.

Non-Traditional security threats like cyberattacks on nuclear infrastructure, biotechnological and genetic engineering risks, climate change-Induced CBRN Risks, and the new menace of big tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has changed the turf of the game altogether. Dynamic and adaptive policies and building up of expertise by the agencies and the respondents is of utmost importance.

Hence, this research will be effective to provide a context for the betterment of the national security strategy of India with respect to CBRN and provide policy recommendations so that India can efficiently deal with the emerging threats in the arena of CBRN.

---

BY SAPNIL BISWAS

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com