PM Celebrates National Technology Day by Highlighting Scientific Achievements of 1998 Pokhran Nuclear Tests

In May 1998, India executed a series of five nuclear tests at the Pokhran Test Range located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The tests, conducted on May 11 and 13, were a demonstration of Indias advanced nuclear weapon designs and marked a significant milestone in the countrys defense capabilities.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Shakti,” included the detonation of three devices on May 11 and two additional tests on May 13. The successful tests positioned India as a nuclear-armed state, asserting its strategic autonomy in the face of regional security concerns.

The tests provoked international reactions, leading to widespread condemnation from various countries, and prompted discussions around nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. In the wake of the tests, India faced economic sanctions from the United States and other nations, which had implications for its global relations and trade.

Indias nuclear program began in the 1940s and was advanced by a combination of indigenous efforts and international collaborations. The country has since maintained a policy of no first use (NFU) regarding its nuclear arsenal, aimed at ensuring it leverages nuclear weapons as a deterrent rather than as an aggressive tool. Since the tests, India has continued to develop its missile technology and nuclear capabilities within its stated strategic doctrine.