History, Institutions and Tests

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Who is regarded as the father of the Indian nuclear programme?

   • A.Vikram Sarabhai
   • B.C. V. Raman
   • C.Homi J. Bhabha✓ Correct Answer
   • D.A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

   Explanation: Bhabha founded the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948.

2. Q2.The Atomic Energy Commission of India was set up in:

   • A.1954
   • B.1962
   • C.1974
   • D.1948✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Bhabha was its first chairman.

3. Q3.The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was established in:

   • A.1948
   • B.1962
   • C.1954✓ Correct Answer
   • D.1974

   Explanation: It functions directly under the Prime Minister.

4. Q4.The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is located at:

   • A.Kalpakkam
   • B.Trombay, Mumbai✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Tarapur
   • D.Hyderabad

   Explanation: It is India's premier nuclear research centre.

5. Q5.India's first nuclear test of 1974 was code-named:

   • A.Operation Shakti
   • B.Operation Vijay
   • C.Operation Trident
   • D.Smiling Buddha✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: It was conducted at Pokhran.

6. Q6.The Pokhran nuclear test site is located in the State of:

   • A.Gujarat
   • B.Rajasthan✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Punjab
   • D.Madhya Pradesh

   Explanation: It lies in Jaisalmer district.

7. Q7.The 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran were code-named:

   • A.Operation Shakti✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Smiling Buddha
   • C.Operation Vijay
   • D.Operation Meghdoot

   Explanation: They were carried out in May 1998.

8. Q8.Asia's first research reactor, commissioned in 1956 at Trombay, was:

   • A.CIRUS
   • B.Apsara✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Dhruva
   • D.Zerlina

   Explanation: It was built with British assistance.

9. Q9.India's first nuclear power station was set up at:

   • A.Tarapur✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Kalpakkam
   • C.Kakrapar
   • D.Narora

   Explanation: Tarapur in Maharashtra began operating in 1969.

10. Q10.Who was the Prime Minister when India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974?

    • A.Indira Gandhi✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Lal Bahadur Shastri
    • C.Morarji Desai
    • D.Rajiv Gandhi

    Explanation: The test was called a peaceful nuclear explosion.

11. Q11.Who was the Prime Minister when Pokhran-II was conducted in 1998?

    • A.Atal Bihari Vajpayee✓ Correct Answer
    • B.P. V. Narasimha Rao
    • C.I. K. Gujral
    • D.Manmohan Singh

    Explanation: India declared itself a nuclear weapons state.

12. Q12.Who led the team that conducted India's 1974 nuclear test?

    • A.Homi Bhabha
    • B.A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
    • C.Raja Ramanna✓ Correct Answer
    • D.M. G. K. Menon

    Explanation: He headed BARC at the time.

13. Q13.The Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay was renamed BARC in:

    • A.1967✓ Correct Answer
    • B.1954
    • C.1974
    • D.1998

    Explanation: It was renamed after Bhabha's death in 1966.

14. Q14.The Atomic Energy Act, which governs nuclear activities in India, was passed in:

    • A.1948
    • B.1962✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1954
    • D.1974

    Explanation: The Atomic Energy Act of 1962 superseded the earlier law of the late 1940s.

15. Q15.The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was founded by Homi Bhabha in:

    • A.1930
    • B.1945✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1954
    • D.1962

    Explanation: It became the cradle of India's nuclear science.

16. Q16.The CIRUS research reactor at Trombay (1960) was built with the help of:

    • A.the USSR
    • B.France
    • C.Canada✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Japan

    Explanation: The United States supplied the heavy water.

17. Q17.India's first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, was conducted on:

    • A.11 May 1998
    • B.15 August 1947
    • C.26 January 1950
    • D.18 May 1974✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Buddha Purnima fell on that day.

18. Q18.Homi Bhabha died in 1966 in:

    • A.a road accident in Mumbai
    • B.a laboratory explosion
    • C.a heart attack in Delhi
    • D.an air crash near Mont Blanc✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: He was travelling to a meeting in Vienna.

19. Q19.The Pokhran-II tests took place on:

    • A.18 May 1974
    • B.15 and 16 June 1998
    • C.2 and 4 August 1999
    • D.11 and 13 May 1998✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Five devices were tested in total.

20. Q20.The 1974 test was described by India as a:

    • A.hydrogen bomb test
    • B.missile warhead test
    • C.peaceful nuclear explosion✓ Correct Answer
    • D.nuclear deterrence test

    Explanation: India stated it had no weapons intent then.