In May 1998 , India conducted five underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran desert in Rajasthan , 24 years after its first nuclear test ( Smiling Buddha ) in 1974 . Two weeks later , Pakistan responded with its own nuclear tests making it the newest nation with declared nuclear capability . While some nations , such as France , endorsed India 's right to defensive nuclear power , others including the United States , Canada , Japan , Britain and the European Union imposed sanctions on information , resources and technology to India . In spite of intense international criticism and steady decline in foreign investment and trade , the nuclear tests were popular domestically . In effect , the international sanctions imposed failed to sway India from weaponising its nuclear capability . US sanctions against India and Pakistan were eventually lifted after just six months
five underground nuclear tests
Pokhran-II
Atal Bihari Vajpayee