Ahmedabad Times

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday stated the Pokhran II nuclear assessments showcased that “no energy can bend India”.Codenamed ‘Operation Shakti’, Pokhran II assessments had been a collection of 5 nuclear bomb explosions in Could 1998 that gave India official entry into the worldwide “nuclear membership” and the sixth nation to declare itself a nuclear-armed nation. The nuclear assessments had been carried out over two days in 1998: Could 11 (three assessments) and Could 13 (two assessments).On the Pokhran II anniversary, Modi in a publish on X stated, “On this very day in 1998, the nuclear assessments carried out by India demonstrated to the world simply how unwavering our nation’s resolve is! After the Could 11 assessments, the complete world introduced strain to bear on India, however we demonstrated that no energy can bend India. And interdependence of energy and the highly effective is established. There isn’t a energy with out Shiva, nor Shiva with out energy.”India elevated its nuclear warhead rely from 172 in 2024 to 180 by early 2025 (barely greater than Pakistan’s 170 nukes), and estimations point out additional progress to 190 by 2026, in keeping with a SIPRI 2025 report. “India continued to develop new sorts of nuclear supply methods. India’s new ‘canisterised’ missiles, which may be transported with mated warheads, could also be able to carrying nuclear warheads throughout peacetime, and presumably even a number of warheads on every missile, as soon as they grow to be operational,” the report stated.India has been upgrading its nuclear supply methods and actively maturing its nuclear triad — land, air and sea capabilities — with a concentrate on reaching a “credible minimal deterrence” and an assured second-strike functionality. On Could 8 this yr, India efficiently flight-tested a complicated Agni missile geared up with MIRV functionality, enabling a single missile to hold a number of nuclear warheads.The Indian Air Drive (IAF), on its half, has additionally considerably enhanced the aerial part of its nuclear triad, shifting in direction of a extra diversified and succesful fleet to make sure strong deterrence. Whereas older, battle-proven platforms like Jaguar fighter jets and Mirage 2000 stay in service, the mixing of superior, multi-role fighters like Rafales and Sukhois is vital to this strategic shift.India has additionally expanded its Arihant-class submarine programme to 4 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) as a part of the superior know-how Vessel (ATV) challenge, aiming to make sure a survivable second-strike functionality. INS Arihant, INS Arighaat and INS Aridhaman carrying nuclear-capable Ok-15 and Ok-4 missiles have already been commissioned into the Navy. The fourth submarine is within the making and might be commissioned in close to future.