Context:
50 years since India’s first Nuclear test
Operation Smiling Buddha:
- Code name for India’s 1st Nuclear test
- Held in – 1974
- Carried out at – Pokhran, Rajasthan
- Significance – India became the 1st nation to conduct a nuclear test apart from the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P-5).
- Operation Shakti – In 1998, India conducted a series of nuclear tests again in Pokhran by the code-named Operation Shakti
- Response to the test – In 1975, Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was established following the explosion.
- It comprises 48 states that have voluntarily agreed to coordinate their export controls to non-nuclear-weapon states.
- It governs the transfers of civilian nuclear material and nuclear-related equipment and technology
India’s Nuclear doctrine:
- Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrent.
- A posture of “No First Use”,nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack
- Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.
- Nuclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorised by the civilian political leadership.
- Commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapon free world
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
(b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Answer: (d)
