India's Major Defence and Nuclear Research Achievements
Under the "Science News" tag in Patwari's GK-India section, India's historic achievements in defence and nuclear research are frequently asked about — from Pokhran to Tejas, they are given here in one place.
- GK-India · Science
- 6 min read
From Pokhran to Self-Reliance
India conducted its first nuclear test on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran (Rajasthan), codenamed "Smiling Buddha". About 24 years later, on 11 and 13 May 1998, five more nuclear tests were carried out at Pokhran, known as "Operation Shakti" (Pokhran-II) — at the time, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Dr. R. Chidambaram were the programme's lead scientific coordinators.
After Pokhran-II, India established itself as a declared Nuclear Weapon State. Alongside this, for self-reliance in missile systems, missiles such as Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, and Nag were developed under the "Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme" (IGMDP).
Major Defence and Nuclear Achievements
| Achievement | Year | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha) | 1974 | India's first nuclear test |
| Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti) | 1998 | 5 nuclear tests; India became a declared nuclear power |
| Prithvi missile | 1988 (first test) | India's first indigenous surface-to-surface ballistic missile |
| Agni missile series | From 1989 | Medium- to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (Agni-V has the longest range) |
| BrahMos | 2001 (first test) | Joint India-Russia supersonic cruise missile |
| Tejas (LCA) | 2001 (first flight), 2016 (inducted into the Air Force) | India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft |
| INS Vikrant (indigenous) | 2022 (commissioned into the Navy) | India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier |
These are all historic missile/defence milestones — check the Current Affairs section for any new test or deployment of a missile.
A Trick to Remember
Keep Pokhran-I and Pokhran-II distinct — the first (1974, "Smiling Buddha") was only a single test, described as a "peaceful nuclear explosion", while the second (1998, "Operation Shakti") was a series of five tests after which India openly declared itself a nuclear power. This pairing of date and name is asked directly in the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did India conduct its first nuclear test?+
On 18 May 1974, at Pokhran (Rajasthan) — codenamed "Smiling Buddha".
When was Pokhran-II conducted and under which Prime Minister?+
In May 1998 (5 tests in total on 11 and 13 May), during the term of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee — it is known as "Operation Shakti".
What is Tejas?+
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) — it took its first flight in 2001 and was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016.
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