In 1998, nuclear explosive devices were tested at ____________ in India.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Pokharan.

The Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted by India on May 11 and 13, 1998, at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. These tests were led by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) under the guidance of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Dr. R. Chidambaram.

The five nuclear tests included thermonuclear and fission bombs, marking India's second nuclear test series after the first Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha) in 1974. The successful execution of these tests made India a nuclear power, leading to international sanctions but also enhancing India's strategic defense capabilities.

Information Booster

Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha) was conducted in 1974 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

• Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti) was conducted in 1998 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The tests made India a de facto nuclear power and led to international sanctions.
• May 11 is observed as National Technology Day in India.
• The tests were conducted in secrecy to avoid detection by global surveillance systems.

Additional Knowledge

• Thumba: Located in Kerala, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) is used for space research and sounding rockets, not nuclear testing.

• Sriharikota: Home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), which is the primary launch site for ISRO’s space missions. It does not conduct nuclear tests.

• Bangalore: A major hub for India’s aerospace and defense research, housing organizations like ISRO and DRDO, but it has no nuclear testing facilities.

• Pokhran: The correct answer, where India’s nuclear tests were conducted in 1974 and 1998. The site was chosen for its isolated desert terrain, which minimized risk and detection.