This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1980
The Department of Defense Research and Development is established and is set up to manage DRDO and its different laboratories.
—John Pike, "Defense Research and Development Organization: Indian Special Weapons Agencies," Federation of American Scientists, 29 May 2002, <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/agency/drdo.htm>.

11 December 1980
Following a visit by Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, the USSR and India issue a joint declaration in which they both call for measures to "prohibit and eliminate" chemical weapons.
—The Associated Press, 11 December 1980, International News.

1983
Work begins on the Prithvi missile. The Prithvi missile is India's first indigenously produced ballistic missile. The SS-150 version is capable of carrying a chemical warhead.
—"Offensive Weapons, India," Jane's, <http://www.janes.com>; Federation of American Scientists, Weapons of Mass Destruction: WMD Around the World, "Prithvi," <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/missile/prithvi.htm>.

Mid-1980s
India reaches final development and deployment of several chemical agents after Pakistan reportedly has acquired chemical agents
—Anthony Cordesman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction in The Middle East," 27 December 2001, p. 7; Federation of American Scientists, Weapons of Mass Destruction: WMD Around the World, <http://www.fas.rog/nuke/guide/india/cw/index.html>.

1984
The Agricultural Research Unit is re-designated as the Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory (DARL).
—Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory, <http://www.drdo.org/labs/drl/darl/history.shtml>.

3 December 1984
A gas leak from a tank of methyl isocyanate (MIC) at a plant in Bhopal, India, owned and operated by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), causes thousands of casualties.
—Ajoy Bose, "Poison Gas Killed 1,000 and Maims Survivors," The Guardian, 5 December 1984, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

April 1986
The Indian Ministry of Defense sets up a special cell designed to prepare the Indian armed forces for a chemical attack by a neighboring country (i.e., Pakistan and/or China). The cell is tasked with looking at mainly defensive measures against a chemical attack. The cell is also to study the effect of chemical gases in different climate conditions and also the effectiveness of decontamination kits, chemical detectors, and protective gear.
—"Group Set up to Study Chemical Warfare," The Times of India, 21 October 1986, p. 9.

27 November 1986
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev reaffirmed the 1985 Delhi Declaration, which called for a international ban on nuclear weapons, by also calling for a ban on chemical weapons.
—"Delhi Declaration Reaffirmed," Facts on File World News Digest, 5 December 1986, International Affairs; Gorbachev Visits India.

1987
India accuses Pakistan of using chemical weapons against its troops in Siachen. The weapon is apparently used in the constant border skirmishes between India and Pakistan for control of the Siachen Glacier region.
—"WMD Around The World," Federation of American Scientists, 3 August 1999, <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/cw/index.html>.

1988
At the U.N. Disarmament Conference, India claims that it does not possess chemical weapons
—Anthony Cordesman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction in The Middle East," 27 December 2001, p. 7.

1988
In a Working Paper submitted by India to the Third Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament, India states that there is an increasing threat of chemical and biological weapons. India writes that the threat is growing as a result of technological developments in the chemical sphere that remove traditional barriers to CW development. Scientific advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology have increased the biological weapons threat.
—Government of India, "New Technologies and the Qualitative Arms Race: Working Paper submitted by India at the Third Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament, 1988," 1988, <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/doctrine/880000-disarm.htm>.

February 1988
First successful test flight of the Prithvi SS-150 missile, capable of delivering chemical warheads.
—"Offensive Weapons, India," Jane's, <http://www.janes.com>.

9 January 1989
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Natwar Singh, states that India supports the forum on confirming the 1925 Geneva Protocol that bans the use of chemical weapons.
—Yuri Lopatin, Nikita Yermakov, and Alexander Krivyhk, "Conference on Chemical Weapons Continued," TASS, 9 January 1989.

May 1989
The Agni missile has its first successful test-launch.
—"Offensive Weapons, India," Jane's, <http://www.janes.com>.

22 May 1989
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Presidents Raul Alfonsin of Argentina, Carlos Salinas de Gortari of Mexico, Prime Ministers Ingvar Carlsson of Sweden, Andreas Papandreou of Greece, and former President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, agree to press for an initiative for disarmament through the United Nations that would include a convention on chemical weapons.
—"Six Leaders Urge Security Through United Nations," Associated Press, 22 May 1989, Washington Dateline.

28 June 1989
The West German export company, Rheineisen Chemical Products, admits that it arranged a shipment of 257 tons of thionyl chloride from India to Iran. [Note: Thionyl chloride is a potential precursor for nerve agent or possibly mustard.]
—Robert J. McCartney, "West German Police Raid Company Suspected of Chemical Arms Sales," Washington Post, 20 June 1989, p. A26.

30 June 1989
Indian officials state that the state-owned trading company, Transpeck Private Ltd., sold Iran 60 tons of thionyl chloride in March. Officials also admit that the company is to send another 257 tons of the same chemical, but the deal was cancelled due to US pressue.
—Stephen Engelberg and Michael Gordon, "India Seen as a Key on Chemical Arms," New York Times, 10 July 1989, p. 1A; "Ship Bound for Iran May be Halted; W. German Chemical Reportedly to be Stopped in Dubai," Los Angeles Times, 1 July 1989, Part 1, Page 8.

1 July 1989
The Seacrest Pioneer, a ship carrying thionyl chloride from India to Iran is stopped in Hamriya, Dubai before it can finish its shipment. The containers of the ship were unloaded, and the ship reloaded cargo and sailed back to India.
—"Ship Reportedly Carrying Poison Gas Chemical for Iran Docks in Dubai," Los Angeles Times, 2 July 1989, Part 1, Page 16; "No Move to Seize Alleged Poison Cargo," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2 July 1989, p. 11D.

5 July 1989
An executive with the company Transpek Private Ltd., states that the chemicals destined for Iran, have now been returned to its factory.
—"India Halts a Shipment of Chemicals for Iran," New York Times, p. 3A.

10 July 1989
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that he expected that the Indian government would cooperate in putting strict controls on the exports of chemical weapons. The statement was made following a New York Times report that states that India has become a major exporter of chemical substances used to make chemical weapons.
—"Indian Cooperation Sought Against Chemical Proliferation," Associated Press, 10 July 1989, Washington Dateline.

10 July 1989
US officials claim that Indian chemical companies during the previous two years have sold hundreds of tons of chemicals used to make chemical weapons to Iran, Iraq, and Egypt.
—Stephen Engelberg and Michael Gordon, "India Seen as a Key on Chemical Arms," New York Times, 10 July 1989, Section A; Page 1.

17 July 1989
An official with the Indian firm Transpek Private Ltd., states that the company will resume its exports of thionyl chloride once it receives government permission.
—"Import Briefs," Journal of Commerce, 17 July 1989, Imports, p. 4A.

1990
Transpek wins bid for the Turnkey Project in Iran. The company is to install and commission a chemical plant in that country.
—"Milestones/Accolades?" Transpek, <http://www.transpek.com/trans_who.htm>.

25 January 1990
Indian Foreign Minister Inder Kumar Gujral states that Indian and the USSR will continue to work together on putting limitations on chemical weapons as declared in the New Dehli Declaration on a Nuclear Free and Non-Violent World.
—"Indian Foreign Minister for Cooperation with USSR," TASS, 25 January 1990.

13 October 1990
A spokesman for the Indian External Affairs Ministry states that the Indian government has decided to institute a system of control on the export of dual use chemicals that could be used to manufacture chemical weapons. The government creates a list of such chemicals that must have government approval before they can be exported.
—"Government to Control Export of Chemicals Used in Chemical Weapons," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 16 October 1990.

7 March 1991
According to a statement by Rear Admiral Thomas A. Brooks, India and Pakistan have postured their forces for the possible use of chemical weapons should a conflict erupt. The statement also contends that India most likely has a chemical weapons stockpile because of its large chemical industry infrastructure.
—Statement of Rear Admiral Thomas A. Brooks, US Director of Naval Intelligence Before the Seapower, Strategic, and Critical Materials Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee on Intelligence Issues, 7 March 1991.

16 May 1991
A spokesman for the Indian External Affairs Ministry states that the Indian government welcomed the statement made by US President George Bush forswearing the use of chemical weapons. The spokesman also states that India believes that the statement will strongly contribute to the negotiation of a chemical weapons convention, of which India strongly supports.
—"India Welcomes US Move on Chemical Weapons," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 16 May 1991.

August 1991
The Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory is moved from Leh to Haldwani.
—Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory, <http://www.drdo.com/labs/dls/darl/history.shtml>.

31 October 1991
India and Pakistan both agree to consider issuing a joint declaration on chemical weapons. They also agree to a meeting of a panel of experts at a future date to exchange views on negotiating an accord banning production, deployment, and use of chemical weapons.
—"India, Pakistan Agree on Expert Level Talks on Chemical Weapons," Agence France Presse, 31 October 1991 News.

16 December 1991
Following a visit by Li Peng, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, India and China issue a joint communique that includes a statement calling for the complete prohibition and destruction of chemical weapons.
—"Joint Communique Issued at End of Li Peng's Visit to India," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 17 December 1991.

	Updated September 2003