State dossier
India
IND · INDIA · on the world map
What does it want?
Position: keep it in Geneva (CCW-ONLY). Supports continuing the consensus process in the Geneva weapons convention, and has not said what it should produce.
Keep it in Geneva (CCW-ONLY), since 2024-12-02, stated directly (EXPLICIT)
India holds that the Geneva convention's expert group is the right forum and that the UN General Assembly track duplicates it. In its 2024 statement explaining its vote, India said it abstained because parallel processes duplicate effort while the Geneva group already covers the full range of issues. India's votes ran No, Abstain, Yes across the three resolutions. That is a change in how it treats the UN resolutions, not a change in which forum it wants, so no position shift is recorded. Whether the 2025 Yes signals a softer position is an open question; India's 2025 statement explaining that vote, not yet obtained, would answer it.
India abstained on the 2024 resolution, stating its reason in its own explanation of vote.
India has abstained on the resolution L.77
Explanation of vote by India on resolution 79/62 (L.77), Lethal autonomous weapons systems, November 2024 source
India objects to parallel UNGA mandates as duplicating the CCW GGE's work.
Parallel mandates and processes on lethal autonomous weapons systems also amount to a duplication of efforts and resources
Explanation of vote by India on resolution 79/62 (L.77), Lethal autonomous weapons systems, November 2024 source
In its own 2025 working paper India supports prohibiting the use of fully autonomous LAWS that cannot comply with IHL.
India supports the prohibition of the use of fully autonomous LAWS which cannot be used in compliance with IHL
Working Paper - Emerging Technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2025/WP.3), 2025-05-16 source
For all other LAWS India calls for appropriate regulation of their use.
For all other LAWS, the GGE should identify measures for appropriate regulations on their use
Working Paper - Emerging Technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2025/WP.3), 2025-05-16 source
India frames those regulations as implemented through national measures.
Appropriate regulations arising out of any possible framework should be implemented nationally
Working Paper - Emerging Technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2025/WP.3), 2025-05-16 source
India holds that the CCW is the right forum for work on LAWS.
We continue to believe that CCW, bringing together major military powers alongside a wider membership, is the appropriate forum for this endeavour.
Preparatory Committee of the Seventh CCW Review Conference, 3rd meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-09-08 source
India supports a mandate for the Group to continue deliberations, not a named instrument.
India would support a mandate for the Group, allowing sufficient time for it to continue deliberations in a structured and systematic manner.
Preparatory Committee of the Seventh CCW Review Conference, 3rd meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-09-08 source
Shown large among its peers · hover a mark for its position
How did it vote?
No, Abstain, Yes across the three resolutions.
Hover a legend chip to light those votes · each resolution links to its record
What has it signed?
Being on a list is a fact. Not being on one is not opposition.
Hover a column heading to light its signings · click a seal to open the document
When has it spoken?
Every time it went on the record, dated.
Hover a mark for what it was · a legend chip lights that type
What rules has it written at home?
Its own military policy.
No published military policy on weapon autonomy found by this site, as of 2026-07-17.
This site reviewed the public record and found no published national directive on autonomy in weapon systems.
The record
The documents on file.
Each mark opens its source