Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, by India at Pokhran. These nuclear tests resulted into a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states. On 18th May 1974 India’s first nuclear explosion, code named Smiling Buddha, was conducted. After about a quarter century, on Buddha Jayanti, 11 May 1998, the Shakti has been demonstrated: Shakti is a Sanskrit word which literally means strength, and Shakti is also the name of the Hindu Goddess of strength. Shakti was the codename for Pokharan-II.

Detonations

On 11th May 1998, three simultaneous detonations were conducted, which consisted of a 15 kiloton fission device (atom bomb), a 45 kiloton thermonuclear device (hydrogen bomb) and a 0.2 kiloton device. The detonations of 13 May 1998 were in sub-kiloton range of 0.5 kiloton and 0.3 kiloton.

Pokharan-II resulted into an international debate regarding the yield of the hydrogen bomb, and some circles were sceptical about India’s capability of having “tested” a hydrogen bomb, but further research showed that India possessed the technology to develop a hydrogen bomb as well. Their misgivings were actively

Sanctions

India's decision to detonate nuclear devices (Pokharan-II) resulted into severe and comprehensive economic and technology related sanctions by a number of states. Over a period of time, these sanctions had only marginal effects on India’s economy and technological progress. Most of the sanctions were lifted within five years of Pokharan-II.

India's stand

After Pokharan-II the Prime Minister of India declared India to be a Nuclear Weapon State. This official declaration ended years of ambiguity about India’s nuclear infrastructures and capabilities. The Prime Minister of India further put a self declared moratorium on further nuclear fission by India. At the same time, India declared the policy of NFU.

This was in conformity with India’s sovereign desire to maintain a level of independent status in the international comity of nations. Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and National Security Adviser had articulated this desire in these words: "I have always felt that you cannot in today's world be counted for something without going nuclear."