On May 18, 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha.
With this, India had entered the league of nations with nuclear capabilities.
With Smiling Buddha, India became the first nation to conduct a nuclear test apart from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
After the nuclear test, there were criticisms that it was an attempt to divert people’s attention from the economic crisis the country was facing in the 1970s.
In 1998, India again conducted a series of nuclear tests in Pokhran once again, code-named Operation Shakti.