Pokhran-I
Also called: Smiling Buddha, Peaceful nuclear explosion · Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "India's External Relations"
Meaning
Pokhran-I was India's first nuclear test. It was held on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran in Rajasthan. India called it a "peaceful nuclear explosion", meaning a test for non-military uses and not for building a bomb. It showed that India had nuclear skills even though it stayed outside the NPT. Because of the test, supplier countries formed the Nuclear Suppliers Group to control nuclear exports.
Example
The test took place in a hard year at home, with the 1973 oil shock, high inflation and the 1974 railway strike. Soon after, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (1974-75) was formed to stop nuclear material and technology from reaching countries like India.
Don't confuse with
- Pokhran-II (11 and 13 May 1998): these were five tests that openly showed India could make nuclear weapons. Pokhran-I was one test in 1974, described as peaceful.
Related concepts
- India's nuclear policy
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
- Nuclear Suppliers Group
- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
- Pokhran-II
- Credible minimum deterrence
- No first use