What is the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)?

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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.

It is the authority responsible for command, control, and operational decisions regarding India’s nuclear weaponsprogramme.
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.