Well,no i am not saying anything self contradictory as you suggest.
Just correcting your statements. India did articulate their NFU policy only in 2003,before that there was no such policy.
After 26/11 even the so called "Educated Indians" were deeply Anti Pakistan and so was international opinion,thanks to successful Indian Propaganda and it was the high time to use nukes as nobody had really bothered.
Back than,not using it suggest lack of nuclear capability. In 2003,they may have improved upon it.
Even today,unlike Pakistan India only makes Heavy lifter Missiles,which shows India hasn't mastered Miniature nukes,which are more difficult to make than Larger nukes.
NILORE near Islamabad did register a Seismic activity at the claimed time of Indian test. But far from the magnitude India claimed and neither did it confirm the number of tests India says it conducted.