India's first nuclear test?

Question

Vedantu Content Team · Accepted Answer

Answer: 18 May 1974

Explanation:

India conducted its first nuclear test on 18 May 1974 at the Pokhran Test Range in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. This historic event was codenamed "Smiling Buddha" and marked India's entry into the elite club of nuclear-capable nations.

The nuclear device was detonated at 8:05 AM local time, 107 meters underground in the desert. The explosion had a yield of approximately 8-12 kilotons, which was comparable to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. This test was officially described by the Indian government as a "peaceful nuclear explosion" for research purposes.

The nuclear program was led by Dr. Homi Bhabha, who is considered the father of India's nuclear program, and later continued under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and other brilliant scientists. The test was conducted under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, making India the sixth country in the world to successfully conduct a nuclear test, after the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, and China.

The test had significant geopolitical implications. While India maintained that it was for peaceful purposes, the international community, particularly the United States and Pakistan, reacted with concern. This led to increased pressure on India and resulted in various economic sanctions and restrictions on nuclear technology transfers.

The 1974 nuclear test was a turning point in South Asian geopolitics and global nuclear politics. It demonstrated India's advanced scientific and technological capabilities and established the country as a major regional power. The test also influenced Pakistan's decision to develop its own nuclear weapons program, leading to a nuclear arms race in the subcontinent.

Twenty-four years later, India conducted a series of nuclear tests from 11-13 May 1998, also at Pokhran, which were codenamed "Operation Shakti." These tests officially declared India as a nuclear weapons state and led to Pakistan conducting its own nuclear tests shortly afterward.