EAM Jaishankar recalls 1998 Pokhran nuclear test, says it ensured national security

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday recalled the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test reflecting on its crucial role in fortifying India’s national security.

In 1998, India carried out the Shakti series of nuclear tests at Pokhran under the then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA government which is considered a crucial milestone for India's nuclear capabilities in national security and clean energy.

Taking to X, Jaishankar said, “This day in 1998, an NDA Government finally exercised India’s nuclear weapon option. That momentous decision has since ensured our National Security.”

Jaishankar praised the continuity in policy from the 1998 government to the current NDA administration, while highlighting the NDA government’s commitment to aggressively combating terrorism and enhancing border infrastructure. 

“The current NDA Government has built on that foundation, robustly countering terror and building our border infrastructure. The country must know who stands where when it comes to National Security issues. Our political choices are eventually choices about the future of Bharat,” he said in the post.

Five advanced weapon design nuclear tests were conducted on 11 and 13 May 1998 at Pokhran range in Rajasthan Desert. These tests included a 45-kiloton thermonuclear device, a 15-kiloton fission device, and several smaller devices, confirming India's advanced nuclear capabilities.

The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) released detailed findings in its press release of 15 September 2009 confirming the success and expected yields of the nuclear devices based on comprehensive evaluations and simulations. The confirmation solidifies the role of the tests as a key development in India's national defense and technological advancement.

To honor this achievement, National Technology Day is also celebrated every year on May 11.