A first nuclear test in Pokhran
VerifiedAnswer: Smiling Buddha(1974)
Explanation:
India's first nuclear test, codenamed "Smiling Buddha", was conducted on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. This historic event marked India's entry into the exclusive club of nuclear weapons states, making it the sixth country in the world to successfully test a nuclear device after the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, and China.
The test was officially designated as a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosion" (PNE) by the Indian government, emphasizing that it was conducted for peaceful purposes rather than weapons development. The device was a plutonium-based fission bomb with an estimated yield of 8-12 kilotons, roughly equivalent to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The nuclear program was initiated under the leadership of Dr. Homi Bhabha in the 1940s and later continued by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. The actual test was conducted during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with Dr. Raja Ramanna serving as the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the chief architect of the nuclear device.
The test site at Pokhran was chosen for its remote location in the Thar Desert, which provided the necessary secrecy and safety for conducting such a significant experiment. The device was placed in a shaft 107 meters underground to contain the explosion and minimize radioactive fallout.
The international reaction to India's nuclear test was mixed. While it demonstrated India's advanced scientific and technological capabilities, it also raised concerns about nuclear proliferation in South Asia. The test led to various economic sanctions imposed by several countries, particularly affecting India's nuclear cooperation agreements with other nations.
The success of Smiling Buddha paved the way for India's continued nuclear development program. It established India as a nuclear power and contributed to its strategic autonomy in international relations. The test also boosted national pride and showcased India's scientific achievements to the world, demonstrating that the country could master complex nuclear technology independently despite limited resources and international restrictions.
