Assertion: India first tested a nuclear device in 1984.
Reason: India is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries in the South Asian region.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option 3 - The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct
Assertion: India first tested a nuclear device in 1984. (Incorrect)
Reason: India is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries in the South Asian region. (Correct)
India has faced traditional (military) and non-traditional threats to its security that have emerged from within as well as outside its borders. Its security strategy has four broad components, which have been used in a varying combination from time to time. The first component was strengthening its military capabilities because India has been involved in conflicts with its neighbours — Pakistan in 1947–48, 1965, 1971 and 1999; and China in 1962. Since it is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries in the South Asian region, India’s decision to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 was justified by the Indian government in terms of safeguarding national security. India first tested a nuclear device in 1974.