India was declared a nuclear state in 1998 by late PM Vajpayee
India conducted five successful nuclear tests from May 11-13, 1998, in Pokhran after which then-PM AB Vajpayee declared India a "full-fledged nuclear state". In 1974, under then-PM Indira Gandhi, India became the sixth nation to conduct a nuclear test, which was termed a "peaceful nuclear explosion" fearing sanctions. Pakistan followed India with its first nuclear tests on May 28, 1998.