Correct option is D
The correct answer is (d) Smiling Buddha.
- India's first successful nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, was conducted on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
- The test was codenamed "Smiling Buddha" to symbolize India's peaceful approach to nuclear technology while showcasing its nuclear capabilities to the world.
Information about other options:
- Operation Shakti: This was the codename for a series of nuclear tests conducted in 1998, marking India's second nuclear test series.
- Laughing Buddha: This was a codename given to China's first nuclear test conducted in 1964, not related to India.
- Operation Vijay: This was the codename for India's military operations in Goa during the liberation of Goa in 1961, unrelated to nuclear tests.
Information Booster:
- Pokhran Test Range: Pokhran, located in Rajasthan, became famous for both Smiling Buddha (1974) and the Shakti series (1998), which played a pivotal role in establishing India's position in the global nuclear landscape.