When was Pokhran II held?
VerifiedAnswer: 11 May 1998
Explanation:
Pokhran II, also known as Operation Shakti, was conducted on 11 May 1998 at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, India. This date marked a historic moment in India's nuclear program, as it was exactly 24 years after India's first nuclear test in 1974.
The tests were carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. On this single day, India conducted five underground nuclear tests, demonstrating its advanced nuclear capabilities to the world. The tests included both fission and thermonuclear devices, showcasing India's technological prowess in nuclear science.
The timing of Pokhran II was strategically significant. It came at a time when India was facing security challenges from its neighbors and wanted to establish itself as a major nuclear power. The tests were conducted with utmost secrecy, and even many senior government officials were kept in the dark about the exact timing until the last moment.
Following the successful tests on 11 May 1998, Prime Minister Vajpayee announced India's achievement to the nation, declaring that India had become a full-fledged nuclear weapons state. This announcement sent shockwaves across the international community and led to economic sanctions being imposed on India by several countries, including the United States.
The success of Pokhran II on 11 May 1998 remains a significant milestone in India's scientific and defense history. It demonstrated India's indigenous nuclear technology capabilities and established the country as the sixth nation in the world to possess nuclear weapons, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, and China.
