11 May, is being celebrated as National Technology Day, all over the country to mark the success of technological advancements in India. Indian Scientists and innovators have always been at the forefront of mitigating challenges and bringing out solutions for every problem for long times. They have proved their mettle even in the harshest of situations, be it Y2K issue, or be it the current scenario of COVID, where we have an indigenously developed vaccine. The defence sector is also going through a lot of modernisation with a combined attempt by DRDO, ISRO, ORDINANCE BOARDS and other public and private sectors 

One such major innovation which changed the nuclear future of our country is Operation Shakti nuclear missile in Pokhran Test Range, which happened between 11-13 May 1998. It was the second test conducted by India after the initial test code ‘Smiling Buddha’ which happened in the year 1974. The operation was named Pokhran-II and the first one was renamed Pokhran-I.

In this operation, five nuclear weapons were tested which were named Shakti-I to Shakti-V and to mark the success of these missions we celebrate National Technology Day, since 1999.

OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION:-

According to the former diplomat, Rakesh Sood, involved in post-nuclear tests diplomacy, India had three objectives, First objective was to validate new designs as data from the 1974 test was not enough to ensure the credibility of nuclear test deterrents.

The second objective was to modify terms of engagement with other states after declaring India as a nuclear weapon state and the third was to denote India as a responsible state with an impeccable non-proliferation record. 

Development and test teams:

Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, scientific advisor to the prime minister of India and head of the DRDO and R. Chidambaram, chairman of the atomic energy commission and the department of atomic energy were the project chief coordinators.

Dr K. Santhanam; director, test site preparations from defence research and development organization(DRDO) and Dr G.R. Dikshitulu; senior research scientist. B.S.O. I group, nuclear materials acquisition from atomic minerals directorate for exploration and research were involved in Pokhran II.

The group also included scientists from BARC who devoted all their efforts to the mission success.

The Test Devices: 

The Test preparation : 

The preparation of the test employed combined efforts from all the forces and research units. Indian Army and Indian Airforce played an important role in providing logistical support. The Regiment 58 Engineers had practised a lot about hiding from US Spy satellites and this was of great help in maintaining the secrecy of the mission. 

Three laboratories of the DRDO were involved in designing, testing and producing components like advanced detonators, implosion systems, high-voltage trigger systems. They were also responsible for weaponization — systems engineering, aerodynamics, safety interlocks and flight trials.

The organization of the test was done in two groups fired separately, with all of the devices in a group fired at the same time. The first group consisted of the thermonuclear device, the fission bomb, and a sub-kiloton device, and two more sub-kiloton devices made up the second group.

The thermonuclear device was emplaced in the shaft code-named White House (over 200 m deep), while the Taj Mahal shaft (over 150 m deep) was assigned to the fission bomb and Kumbhkaran to the first sub-kiloton shot. The other three shafts for the second test series were designated NT 1,2 and 3.

Announcement : 

On Monday, 11 May 1998, as measured by international seismic monitors, India declared itself a full-fledged nuclear-armed state. This was accomplished by the detonation of a thermonuclear weapon design, one of three nuclear devices with kiloton-range yields detonated simultaneously under the surface of the Thar desert of Rajasthan near the Indo-Pakistani border. 

The then Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Bajpayee, in a press conference, declared: 

“India is now a nuclear weapons state.”

 “We have the capacity for a big bomb now. Ours will never be weapons of aggression.”

Impact of the Test:

The implications of these tests were in synchrony with the intended objectives and got support from all over India, although there was a criticism in the International Media, this being our security issue we didn’t pay heed to them. The US also imposed economic sanctions over India which was dealt with firmly by the diplomats.

These tests also proved the dedication of our scientists in making India a strong nation and also the technological leap in defence research was also impeccable.

The entire world knew that India was a force to be reckoned with. If the 1974 tests suggested Buddha could smile, the 1998 tests was a reminder the smile could turn into a frown if the situation called for it.