Test was carried out at Pokhran, an army test range in the desert of western Rajasthan, with a plutonium device in the 10-15 kilotons range  and codenamed Operation Smiling Buddha in 1974.

With the test, India became the first nation to conduct a nuclear test apart from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P-5).

In 1998, India conducted a series of nuclear tests again in Pokhran by the code-named Operation Shakti.

• These tests gave India the capability to build nuclear weapons from low yields up to around 200 kilotons. 

Factors driving India’s Pokhran I:

• To establish a deterrent capability against potential adversaries and safeguard national security interests.
• India’s objection to Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on the grounds that it was discriminatory to countries except the P-5.

Response to  the test

• In 1975,  Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was established following the explosion.
  • It comprises 48 states that have voluntarily agreed to coordinate their export controls to non-nuclear-weapon states.
  • It governs the transfers of civilian nuclear material and nuclear-related equipment and technology.