India urges human‑in‑the‑loop AI controls and legal no‑first‑use pledges at UN disarmament debate
On 19 October 2026 India’s delegate Manish Tewari warned that AI must not replace human judgement in nuclear command and signalled readiness to turn its no‑first‑use policy into a binding international pact.
India calls for human‑in‑the‑loop AI controls at the UN
Manish Tewari, a member of parliament and India’s representative on the UN General Assembly First Committee, told delegates on 19 October 2026 that the integration of artificial intelligence into nuclear command and control systems raises “real questions”. He stressed the principle that “the decision to use nuclear weapons should be taken by humans”. The statement was delivered during the thematic debate on the nuclear weapons cluster of the 13th plenary meeting of the 81st session on Disarmament and International Peace and Security.
Legal no‑first‑use pledges on the table
Tewari also reaffirmed India’s long‑standing “no first use” (NFU) policy and its voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing. Crucially, he said New Delhi was prepared to convert these unilateral commitments into a multilateral legal arrangement that would bind all nuclear‑weapon states to refrain from first use against non‑nuclear parties. The push aligns with India’s call for “legally binding negative security assurances” for non‑nuclear weapon states.
A broader vision for universal disarmament
Beyond the AI and NFU points, India urged the UN to adopt a “universal, non‑discriminatory and verifiable” framework for nuclear disarmament. The delegation cited its 2006 working paper and the 2007 Conference on Disarmament document CD/1816 as foundations for a step‑by‑step, multilateral approach. It reiterated support for long‑standing resolutions on de‑alerting and de‑targeting nuclear arsenals and for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons, while noting that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons does not impose obligations on India.
Why the stance matters for India’s global profile
By foregrounding human‑in‑the‑loop safeguards and offering a legal NFU pathway, India positions itself as a responsible nuclear power willing to shape emerging‑technology norms. The move dovetails with the United Nations “Pact for the Future” agenda on existential risks, signalling that India is ready to lead on the governance of AI‑enabled weapons while preserving strategic stability in its neighbourhood.
Looking ahead
The First Committee will reconvene later in the week to discuss other weapons‑of‑mass‑destruction clusters. India is expected to continue championing step‑wise multilateralism, pushing for broader adoption of its AI‑control recommendations and legal NFU framework in forthcoming disarmament negotiations.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Date of UN statement | 19 October 2026 | Manish Tewari’s UNGA First Committee speech |
| Speaker | Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament | India’s official statement |
| Policy reaffirmed | No‑first‑use and voluntary nuclear‑testing moratorium | India’s delegation |
| Requested framework | Universal, non‑discriminatory, verifiable nuclear disarmament | India’s UN submission |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| India | Country advocating AI controls and NFU |
| Manish Tewari | Indian MP delivering the UN statement |
| United Nations General Assembly First Committee | Forum for disarmament debate |
