Why was India's 1st nuclear test codenamed 'Smiling Buddha'?
On May 18, 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test at Pokhran under the leadership of then PM Indira Gandhi. Throughout the project's development, the device was called "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive". However, as the test's date coincided with Buddhist festival of Buddha Purnima, the PM's office was reportedly contacted with a code phrase "Buddha is smiling" after a successful detonation.