"Smiling Buddha" is the nickname given to India's first successful nuclear test, which took place on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test Range in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. This test marked India's entry into the group of nuclear-capable nations and was conducted under the code name "Operation Smiling Buddha." The test demonstrated India's ability to develop nuclear weapons and had significant geopolitical implications, impacting regional security dynamics in South Asia.
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