"Operation Smiling Buddha" was India's first nuclear test, conducted on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. The test was a significant milestone for India, marking its entry into the group of nations with nuclear capabilities. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, and aimed to demonstrate the country's technological advancements and strategic autonomy. The test was codenamed "Smiling Buddha" to reflect a sense of pride and achievement. It involved the detonation of a nuclear device, which was developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other scientific institutions. The successful test had profound implications for regional security and international relations, influencing the dynamics of nuclear proliferation in South Asia.