2.2.1. The Chinese Nuclear Test and After

Following the Chinese nuclear test at Lop Nor in 1964, arguments were made in the parliament called for an abandonment of nonalignment and even urged that India acquire an independent nuclear weapons option. Prime Minister Shastri privately explored the possibility of help from the United States for nuclear security. More importantly he declared India would not make nuclear weapons of its own. In 1966, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who succeeded Mr. Shastri, also decided to seek a nuclear guarantee from the great powers. This effort, however, brought no success. Hence, Prime Minister Gandhi authorized India’s Subterranean Nuclear Explosions Project (SNEP) which led to India’s first nuclear test of May 1974.

It is important to note that India had signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) which came into existence in 1963. It was perhaps in the hope that the treaty would lead to further nuclear disarmament. However these hopes remained hopes only. The Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which opened for signature in 1968 represented the inequities of global order. India opposed the treaty citing norms of sovereign equality, at the same time the potential constraints of NPT on its own nuclear options was a key consideration.