In India, the underground nuclear explosive tests popularly known as the Pokhran tests were carried out at which location?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian political and strategic geography and asks about the site where India conducted its nuclear explosive tests. The tests are historically significant and widely known as the Pokhran tests, making the associated location an important fact for general knowledge and competitive exam preparation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is nuclear explosive devices tested in India.
• The tests were underground and are popularly termed Pokhran I and Pokhran II.
• Options list several different scientific and strategic centres in India.
• You must identify the correct location associated with the nuclear test sites.

Concept / Approach:
India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 and a series of further tests in 1998. Both sets of underground tests were carried out at the Pokhran test range in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan. The name Pokhran has since become strongly associated with Indian nuclear capability. The other locations in the options are associated with different space or nuclear related facilities but not with the nuclear test explosions themselves.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that India nuclear tests are collectively known as the Pokhran tests. Step 2: Connect the name Pokhran with a test range located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Step 3: Recognise that Kanchipuram is a temple town in Tamil Nadu and is not a nuclear test site. Step 4: Note that Sriharikota is the main spaceport of India used by the space agency for rocket launches, not nuclear tests. Step 5: Eliminate other options and select Pokhran in Rajasthan as the correct location.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the answer by checking any standard Indian history or current affairs source that discusses the 1974 and 1998 tests. These sources clearly state that the tests were carried out at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. Documentaries, news archives and government releases around the anniversary of the tests also repeatedly use the term Pokhran to describe the site.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Kanchipuram is known mainly for temples and silk sarees, not for nuclear facilities. Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh is used by the national space agency for launching satellites and rockets, so it is a space launch centre rather than a nuclear test site. Tarapur in Maharashtra is known for a nuclear power station that generates electricity, not for underground tests. Thumba in Kerala is associated with an early rocket launching station near Thiruvananthapuram and is related to space research rather than nuclear explosions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Sriharikota and Pokhran because both are strategic locations related to advanced technology and national security. Another pitfall is to mix up nuclear power station sites with nuclear test ranges. Always remember that Pokhran refers specifically to the desert test range in Rajasthan where underground nuclear devices were detonated, whereas places like Tarapur are used for controlled power generation and Sriharikota for launching rockets.

Final Answer:
Pokhran in Rajasthan