Question

Arrange the following events in a chronological order:
(i) Atomic test conducted by China
(ii) First nuclear explosion conducted by India
(iii) Implementation of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(iv) Initiation of the atomic programme in India under the guidance of Homi Jehangir Bhabha
Choose the correct option:

• A. (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)
• B. (iv), (i), (iii), (ii)
• C. (i), (iii), (iv), (ii)
• D. (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)

Hint:

Think of the timeline like a ladder of atomic evolution in Asia: Homi Bhabha starts India's dream (1948) $\rightarrow$ China tests its bomb (1964) $\rightarrow$ World powers impose the NPT (1970) $\rightarrow$ India responds with Pokhran-I (1974).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Identifying the Historical Timeline of Each Event:
Let us determine the precise historical date/period for each of the listed events:
• (iv) Initiation of the atomic programme in India under Homi Jehangir Bhabha: This commenced in the late 1940s. Following the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1945 and the passing of the Atomic Energy Act in August 1948, the Atomic Energy Commission of India was formed with Bhabha as its first chairman.
• (i) Atomic test conducted by China: China conducted its first successful nuclear test (codenamed “596”) at the Lop Nur test site on 16 October 1964.
• (iii) Implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): The treaty was opened for signature in 1968 and officially came into force (implementation) on 5 March 1970.
• (ii) First nuclear explosion conducted by India: India conducted its first peaceful nuclear explosion (codenamed “Smiling Buddha” or Pokhran-I) in Rajasthan on 18 May 1974.

Step 2: Ordering the Events Chronologically:
Arranging these events from the earliest to the latest: $$\text{Late 1940s (iv)} \rightarrow \text{October 1964 (i)} \rightarrow \text{1970 (iii)} \rightarrow \text{May 1974 (ii)}$$ This corresponds to the sequential sequence: (iv), (i), (iii), (ii).

Step 3: Verification of the Options:
Comparing this sequence with the given options:
• Option (A): (ii), (iii), (i), (iv) --- Incorrect.
• Option (B): (iv), (i), (iii), (ii) --- Correct.
• Option (C): (i), (iii), (iv), (ii) --- Incorrect.
• Option (D): (iv), (iii), (ii), (i) --- Incorrect. Thus, Option (B) is the correct choice.