Editing Smiling Buddha (section)

== Background ==
The origins of [[Indian nuclear programme|India's nuclear programme]] can be traced back to 1945 when [[Homi Jehangir Bhabha|Homi Bhabha]] established the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] with the aid of [[Tata Group]]. After [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian independence]], the Atomic Energy Act was passed on 15 April 1948, that established the [[Indian Atomic Energy Commission]] (IAEC).<ref name="History">{{cite web|last=Sublette|first=Carey|title=Origins of Indian nuclear program|url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/India/IndiaOrigin.html|publisher=Nuclear weapon Archive|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> India was involved in the development of the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]], but ultimately did not sign it.<ref>{{cite book|last=Perkovich|first=George|title=India's nuclear bomb: the impact on global proliferation|year=2002|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-23210-5}}</ref> In 1954, [[Department of Atomic Energy (India)|Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)]] was established which was responsible for the atomic energy development programme and was allocated a significant amount of the defence budget in the subsequent years. In 1956, the first [[nuclear reactor]] named ''APSARA'' became operational at [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre|Trombay]], becoming the first operating reactor in Asia.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1545653|title=Apsara – U Reactor Becomes Operational at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay|date=11 September 2018|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref> A [[CIRUS reactor]] was given to India as a part of an understanding with Canada and the [[United States]] under the [[Atoms for Peace]] programme. India set up an indigenous programme to manufacture [[uranium]] [[nuclear fuel]] for the reactor, as opposed to importing from other countries.<ref name="History"/> In July 1958, then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] authorized "Project Phoenix" to build a reprocessing plant with a capacity to produce 20 tons of [[plutonium]] fuel a year using the [[PUREX]] process, designed by the [[Vitro Corporation|Vitro Corporation of America]]. The construction of the plutonium plant began in 1961, and it was commissioned in mid-1964.<ref name="History"/> 

The civilian nuclear program to produce electricity from nuclear energy was also established during this period with plans to construct new [[nuclear power plant]]s for the purpose. Nehru's discussions with Bhabha and [[Kenneth Nichols]], a [[United States Army|US Army]] engineer, showed his approach and intention to create nuclear weapons as a means of [[Deterrence theory|deterrence]].<ref name="Kumar">{{cite book|last=Kumar|first=P.|title=Homi J. Bhabha: A Complete Biography: Homi J. Bhabha: A Complete Biography: Architect of India's Nuclear Program|publisher=Prabhakar Prakashan Private Limited|year=2024|isbn=978-93-5562-943-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VdXsEAAAQBAJ|page=1960|access-date=6 April 2024|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520143446/https://books.google.com/books?id=VdXsEAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1962, India was engaged in a [[Sino-Indian War|war with China]] and with China pursuing its own atomic development programme, it accelerated India's need to develop [[nuclear weapons]].<ref name="History"/> During this period, India signed an agreement with [[Soviet Union]] to help build nuclear reactors in India.{{sfn|Perkovich|1999|p=37}}