What is the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)?

About Strategic Forces Command (SFC):

• The SFC, sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), which is responsible for command-and-control decisions regarding India’s nuclear weapons programme.
• SFC is responsible for the management and administration of the country’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
• It was created on January 4, 2003.

Responsibility of SFC:

• It is the responsibility of the SFC to operationalize the orders of the NCA under the leadership of a Commander-in-Chief who is a Senior Officer.
• It has the sole responsibility of initiating the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads after acquiring clear approval from the NCA.
• Moreover, the final target selection is also done by the SFC through a calibrated, cumulative process involving various levels of decision-making, including formal approval from the NCA.
• The SFC manages and administers all strategic forces by exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets, and producing all contingency plans as needed to fulfill the required tasks. 
• Since its inception, the SFC’s command, control, and communication systems have been firmly established, and the command has attained a high state of operational readiness.
• It consists of officers and personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and Indian Navy who are deputed from their respective services.
• The Commander-in-Chief, a 3-star General, is appointed on a rotational basis from the three services.

Key Facts about India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA):

• It is the authority responsible for command, control, and operational decisions regarding India’s nuclear weapons programme.
• It comprises a Political Council and an Executive Council.
• The Political Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • It is the sole body which can authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
• The Executive Council is chaired by the National Security Advisor.

It provides inputfor decision-making by the NCA and executes the directives given to it by the Political Council.

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