Pokhran-II Tests in 1998

The Narasimha Rao government started another nuclear program but it was unfortunately detected by the US spy satellites. India received a lot of criticism and sanctions internationally for this.

The ye­ar 1998 saw the project moving forward under Prime­ Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This series of tests were named Operation Shakti. Further, the 5 test bombs would be known as Shakti-I, Shakti-II, and so on. But have come to be known as Pokhran-II in recent years. It was a series of 5 detonations out of which 1 was a fusion bomb while the rest were fission bombs.

Unlike Pakistan, India did not have any area where they could clandestinely conduct the nuclear test. Hence, Pokhran which is a remote desert in Rajasthan was selected. The test was conducted in the month of May when the wind would blow and cause sandstorms.

The sandstorms would cause an obstruction to the view of the spy satellites. It was also selected because Rajasthan tends to get very hot in the summer months. The sensitive infrared signals would not be able to pick up any such activity if the temperature goes above 50 degrees in the daytime.

Advancements and Preparations for the Second Test

Dr. Abdul Kalam and Dr. R Chidambaram were the directors of the program. The 58th Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers was instructed to prepare the test sites to avoid any detection by spy satellites.

• Bomb shafts were dug under camouflage nets and the dug-out sand was shaped to look like dunes.
• Cable wires for censors were concealed using sand and growing vegetation on it
• The technical staff were supposed to wear military uniforms on-site to camouflage and avoid any sort of detection by spy satellites
• Scientists would arrive in locations near Pokhran under a pseudonym and were transported to the location by the army

Execution and Global Impact

The second nuclear test conducted at Pokhran in 1998 came as a surprise to everyone especially since a new government had come to power just a few months ago.

• Pakistan saw this as a threat and sped up its nuclear operations to conduct its test on 30th May 1998. They also went on to accuse India of starting a race for nuclear warfare in the Indian Subcontinent.
• The United States of America condemned the nuclear tests and declared to stop all sorts of aid to be provided to India except for Humanitarian aid.
• China claimed that the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran by India served as a threat to the peace and stability of South Asia.

Pokhran Nuclear Test: The Pokhran Nuclear Test was conducted by the Indian Government twice. One was in 1974 and the other in 1998. It was done to strengthen India’s position in the international political arena. These tests declared India to be a nuclear power

The Pokhran Nuclear Tests hold great significance in India’s history as they evolved India’s security and International relations. It also caused a huge shift of power dynamics especially in South Asia.

In this article, we will look into the Pokhran Nuclear Test, including the background of India’s Nuclear Program, the 1974 Pokhran Test, and the Pokhran-II Test in 1988 in detail.

What was the Pokhran Nuclear Test?

In 1974, India secretly detonated its first nuclear bomb, “Smiling Buddha,” at Pokhran, sparking international outcry but boosting national pride. In 1998, under “Operation Shakti,” India openly conducted five more tests, declaring itself a nuclear power despite further disapproval. These Pokhran blasts, while controversial, bolstered India’s security stance and scientific advancement, but reignited concerns about nuclear proliferation and ethical implications.