In May 1998, India stunned the world by carrying out its second round of underground nuclear detonations—collectively known as Pokhran-II—at the Rajasthan Test Range. Over two days, May 11 and 13, the Government of India successfully detonated five devices, propelling India into the exclusive club of declared nuclear-armed states.
Background: From “Smiling Buddha” to Pokhran-II
India’s nuclear journey began with the 1974 “Smiling Buddha” test, which demonstrated peaceful nuclear capability but also hinted at weapons potential. For over two decades, New Delhi maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity. However, shifting regional dynamics and perceived threats from neighboring nuclear powers prompted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government to authorize a definitive demonstration of deterrence.
The Tests: Technical Details and Objectives
- Date & Location: May 11 & 13, 1998, at Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan
- Devices: Five underground tests, including a fusion (thermonuclear) device and sub-kiloton tactical devices
- Codenames: Shakti I through Shakti V
- Yield Estimates: Ranged from ~0.2 kilotons to over 45 kilotons
The primary aim was to validate warhead designs and signal India’s strategic autonomy. Underground shafts, drilled up to 150 meters deep, contained the explosions and seismic signatures were monitored globally.
International Reaction and Sanctions
The tests triggered immediate condemnation and sanctions from major powers:
- United States & Japan: Imposed economic and technology embargoes.
- European Union: Suspended high-tech exports and military cooperation.
- Pakistan: Conducted its own tests later in May 1998, igniting a regional arms race.
Yet India weathered the storm by leveraging diplomatic outreach and emphasizing its “no-first-use” nuclear doctrine, which it formally adopted in 2003.
Strategic Impact on South Asia
- Deterrence Stabilization: India’s explicit nuclear status altered Pakistan’s threat calculus, ushering in a tenuous balance of terror.
- Doctrinal Evolution: Spurred development of a triad capability—land, air, and sea-based nuclear forces.
- Non-Proliferation Debate: India’s tests challenged the effectiveness of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), prompting calls for criteria-based frameworks over binary divisions of nuclear haves and have-nots.
Pokhran-II Legacy
- Declared Nuclear State: India’s international standing rose, showcased by later civil-nuclear agreements (e.g., U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Deal, 2008).
- Domestic Consensus: Across party lines, Pokhran-II cemented nuclear deterrence as national policy.
- Technology & Research: Investments in indigenous enrichment and missile development accelerated, giving rise to programs like Agni and Prithvi.
Conclusion
The Pokhran-II tests of 1998 were more than a show of force—they were India’s assertion of strategic independence and technological prowess. Today, they remain a defining moment in South Asian security, global non-proliferation discourse, and India’s rise as a pivotal player on the world stage.