At 8:05 18 May 1974 (IST) India became youngest nuclear power unofficially apart from permanent nations in security council.On September 7, 1972, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave authorization to the scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to manufacture the nuclear device they had designed and prepare it for a test.The device was called as "peaceful nuclear explosive", "peaceful nuclear device".The project was referred as "Smiling Buddha".The leader of the team developing the device was Raja Ramanna, then director of BARC.It was conducted in Pokhran- a city located in Jaisalmar ditrict of Rajasthan.The project wes handled wtih great secrecy.The project employed only 75 scientists and engineers.Apart from these people,the datails regarding the project was only known by Indira Gandhi,P.N.Haskar (trusted advisor) , D.P.Dhar(principal secretary). It is said that even Defense Minister was not informed.

Probable reasons which led India to go Nuclear

• China had exploded a thermonuclear device in 1967, and had become very belligerent -moving troops into disputed areas and making threats.

• Pakistan,which had a crushing defeat in 1971,made China its strong ally.

• Hostile attitude taken by US (President Nixon and Secretary of State in particular) towards India.It even went so far as to dispatch an aircraft carrier battle group to the Indian Ocean during the crisis to pressurize India.

• Problem of Security was serious concern.

• Desire for recognition as one of the powerful countries globally as well as regionally.This was indeed required to normalize relations with China,to show India's independence from Soviet Union,to change the attitude of neglect and hostility of US towards India.

• On 30 December 1971 Sarabhai died, and Homi Sethna took his place as chairman of the IAEC.The only restraint for nuclear programme in the parliament was gone and had been replaced by one of the supporter.Indira Gandhi was in her peak popularity after the war and had great courageat that time.By that time even Indian literate elites came to know about of Nuclear programme.So, all these factors led Indira Gandhi to take that courageous decision (where at first she was ambivalent regarding the tests).

Canadian connection:

Canada provided India a 40 MW "Canadian-Indian Reactor"(CIRIUS) research reactor near Mumbai in 1956.The heavy water required for nuclear fission process was supplied by United States.It is said that 6 kg of plutonium came from this reactor.It is also said that Canada did not ask India to comply with IAEA safeguards, the accounting of amount of plutonium being produced. India claims that the agreement with Canada did not have points regarding

the use of Cirius produced plutonium for peaceful means.After this blasts Canada took itself out of the India CANDU project.Canada also supplied Nuclear reactors to Pakistan(125MW nuclear reactor in 1959,CANDU reactor in 1964.Also constucted 137 MW CANDu reactor at Karachi in 1971).In 1976, Canada took out Pakistan project.

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