1978
India is designated as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) Board of Governors (BOG) for the 22nd year in succession since the formation of the Agency. This appointment is based on India's standing as one of the nine member countries most advanced in the field of atomic energy.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.60.

1-2 January 1978
US President Jimmy Carter travels to New Delhi for a two-day visit. During this visit, Carter and Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai issue the "Delhi Declaration," which reaffirms their commitment to democracy, national sovereignty, a more equitable international economic order, and the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) pp.210-211.

3 January 1978
President Carter discloses that he and Indian Prime Minister Desai had sharply disagreed over US demands that India accept safeguards aimed at ensuring American-supplied nuclear fuel be used for peaceful purposes. However, Carter writes a letter to the Indian parliament, in which he says that the United States will continue its shipments of nuclear fuel to India for use in its power reactors.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 3 January 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 3 January 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

7 January 1978
The employees' strike at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) comes to an end. The maintenance work on the Unit-1 pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) resumes.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1977-1978," p.95.

10 January 1978
British Prime Minister James Callaghan states that India may accept 'full scope safeguards' for its nuclear plants without signing the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) if the nuclear powers agree to ban tests and destroy all of their stockpiles.
--The New York Times, Information bank Abstracts, 10 January 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 10 January 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

13 January 1978
Prime Minister Desai reiterates India's objections to full international inspections of its nuclear installations. He also says that "India's acceptance of safeguards will depend on basic disarmament agreement among the nuclear powers."
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 13 January 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 13 January 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

20 January 1978
In a news conference, US Representative Lester Wolff, says that Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai has accepted an invitation to address the US Congress on the "nuclear issue," in May. Wolff also states that Desai has also offered to act as a "buffer," in the disarmament talks (particularly in the nuclear field) between the United States and the USSR.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 21 January 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 21 January 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

February 1978
At the present time, the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Trombay employs a staff of 3,172 scientists, 5,281 technicians, 1,198 administrators, and 2,342 maintenance and auxiliary personnel.
--George Perkoivch, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.213.

28 February 1978
The Unit-2 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) comes back online after it was shut down for refueling in December 1977.
--The Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1977-1978," p.93.

10 March 1978
The US Congress moves to tie the Carter administration's hands in dealing with India by passing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act (NNPA). This long and complicated legislation is the culmination of several years of intense intergovernmental debate informed by numerous official and nongovernmental studies. The Act restricts the export of sensitive nuclear material, including enriched uranium fuel, only to countries, which place all such facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) full scope safeguards.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.206; Raj Chengappa, "Hello,Mr Bomb," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi, India: Harper Collins Publishers India, 2000) p.223.

24 March 1978
Indian Prime Minster Desai states that India is considering alternatives to its dependence on US imports of enriched uranium, in order to fuel its atomic power station in Tarapur. There have been considerable delays in the shipments of enriched uranium from the US to India and many members of the Indian Parliament believe this is due to India's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 24 March 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 24 March 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

April 1978
The 'Stainless Steel Tube Plant' is commissioned at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) in Hyderabad.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.4

1 April-19 September 1978
The Unit-1 pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) is shut down.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.4.

25 April 1978
Prime Minister Desai says that if President Jimmy Carter does not reverse the decision by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to block shipments of enriched uranium to India, this will "be a breach of the '66 agreement between the two countries and will free India to adopt any course it chooses to safeguard its own interests."
The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 25 April 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 25 April 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

27 April 1978
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) takes a tough line against India by refusing to license the next shipment of fuel for the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS). In response, US President Jimmy Carter uses his presidential authority to overturn the NRC's decision explaining that it seriously undermines his government's efforts to persuade India to observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act's (NNPA) deadline of March 1980.
--Raj Chengappa, "Hello, Mr. Bomb," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi, India: Harper Collins Publishers India, 2000) p.223.

28 April 1978
US President Jimmy Carter orders the sale of over eight tons of enriched uranium to India for use in the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS). Furthermore, in a message to the US Congress, the President declares that "to deny a sale would hurt the prospects for getting India to accept stricter nuclear safeguards and other US nonproliferation goals." He also points out that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 (NNPA) allows shipments for a two-year period during which the US can try to reach agreement with recipient countries for safeguards.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 28 April 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 28 April 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

June 1978
Dr. Raja Ramanna, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), is transferred from BARC to New Delhi, where he is named secretary of defense research, scientific adviser to the defense minister, and director general of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). This order for a transfer is mainly based on Prime Minister Desai's mistrust of the pro-explosives leadership at BARC.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.214.

9 June 1978
Prime Minister Desai delivers an address before a special session of the UN General Assembly in which he reaffirms his pledge "not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons even if the rest of the world did so." More boldly, he restates that India "abjured nuclear explosions even for peaceful purposes."
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.211.

13 June 1978
US President Carter meets privately with Indian Prime Minister Desai and both leaders reaffirm their positions on the nuclear export dispute, and Carter restates his ultimate goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.211.

14 June 1978
President Carter and Prime Minister Desai meet again along with their top foreign policy officials. One of the topics that they address is the consideration of nuclear arms control. President Carter explains some of the detailed challenges remaining in the nuclear test ban negotiations, including the need to ensure that nuclear weapon stockpiles remain reliable until they are eliminated.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.212.

14 June 1978
Prime Minister Desai reveals an outlook (during the meeting), that no doubt bedevils the Indian nuclear establishment. He says that "uncertainty on the reliability of stockpiles might be a good thing."
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.212.

17 June 1978
Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi criticizes the Janata Party's (political party in power) decision to abjure nuclear explosions even for peaceful purposes.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.213.

20 June 1978
The Unit-1 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) is shut down for its fifth refueling outage.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.9.

July 1978
The Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant located in Tamil Nadu, commences heavy water production.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.4

July 1978
India signs a "memorandum of understanding" on cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear technology with Libya. The protocol includes providing Libya with the necessary technology for nuclear power generation.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.60; Raj Chengappa, "Hello Mr Bomb," Wepaons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi, India: Harper Collins Publsihers India, 2000) p.224.

26 July 1978
In two addresses to parliament, Morarji Desai rebuffs charges that his no test position is halting nuclear research. However, in doing so he betrays some technical confusion, arguing that "blasts" for "purposes of mining or water purposes or oil purposes" could be allowed but that "explosions" like the one at Pokhran were unnecessary and would not be sanctioned as long as he is prime minister.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.214.

28 July 1978
Prime Minister Desai says that while India is opposed to nuclear explosions, he will not rule out the use of nuclear energy for mining purposes.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 28 July 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 28 July 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

31 July 1978
Prime Minister Desai makes a statement to the Rajya Sabha [upper house of parliament] in which he emphasizes that Pokhran had caused the severe difficulties India now faced in maintaining international cooperation for nuclear research and development. He also notes that "the main countries in which nuclear research is taking place are moving away from peaceful nuclear explosions." Furthermore, Desai urges the Rajya Sabha to see nuclear policy "in the broader perspective of our traditions, our spiritual and moral values and our passion for peace."
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.214.

27 August 1978
The Unit-1 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) is synchronized to the grid. The fifth refueling of the reactor is completed in a record time of 68 days, the shortest time so far.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.9.

12 September 1978
The USSR proposes a treaty at the United Nations (UN) that offers guarantees against a nuclear attack to countries without nuclear weapons. This treaty would also include countries not parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) such as India.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 12 September 1978, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe 12 September 1978, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

20 September 1978
The Unit-1 pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) is resynchronized to the grid, after being shut down for five months. The power output is brought up to 185MWe and efforts are on to reach full capacity before March 1979.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p. 4.

December 1978
The United States and India agree to establish an ad hoc "Scientific Advisory Committee," to examine alternative approaches to safeguards and determine whether International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards impair the progress of nuclear energy programs. The committee will be comprised of an Indian, an American, and two third-party scientists and will be headed by the chairman if the IAEA.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.219.

1979
India is designated a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) Board of Governors for the 23rd year in a row since the inception of the agency. The basis for this appointment is India's standing as one of the nine-member countries most advanced in the field of atomic energy.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.52.

January 1979
The Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant in Tamil Nadu commences production for a short period of time and then is shut down again due to a defect in the ammonia plant of M/s Southern Petrochemicals
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.4; Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.6.

28 February 1979
The total number of personnel at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay is 12, 380. This number comprises 3,317 scientific, 5405 technical, 1,216 administrative, and 2,442 general maintenance and auxiliary staff.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," pp. 42-43.

23 March 1979
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) approves the export of 18.5 tons of slightly enriched uranium to fuel the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) in Trombay. Chairman Joseph M. Hendrie concludes that "India met the requirements set out in US legal provisions aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons." (The vote was 3 to 2 to approve this export license).
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 24 March 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 24 March 1979, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.218.

March-June 1979
The Unit-2 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) is shut down for its sixth refueling outage, which lasts 88 days.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1978-1979," p.9; Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.7.

April 1979
The Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant in Tamil Nadu is restarted after being shut down for three months due to a defect in the ammonia plant of M/s Southern Petrochemicals.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.6.

April 1979
Indian Foreign Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visits Washington, DC and holds a series of meetings with top-ranking American officials, including President Carter. Vajpayee presses the United States to do more to stop Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear weapon capability.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.218.

May 1979
Heavy water production resumes at the Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.6.

4 May 1979
India reviews its defense position in light of reports that Pakistan plans on developing a nuclear explosive capability. The Indian government cautions that this review should not be interpreted as a move away from India's earlier categorical renunciation of atomic weapons.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 4 May 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 4 May 1979, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

27 May 1979
The Carter Administration promotes the idea of a "nuclear-free zone" in an effort to avert a nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. U.S. officials say that this proposal, which would be backed by security guarantees from the United States, Soviet Union, and China, calls for India and Pakistan to renounce the acquisition of nuclear weapons and to accept international safeguards on all existing nuclear facilities.
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 27 May 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 27 May 1979, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

July 1979
Prime Minister Morarji Desai government falls due to internecine political conflict. As a result, leaders of numerous political factions engage in a free-for-all to supplant him. Desai is succeeded by the 77 year old-Choudhary Charan Singh, the head of a rival political party.
--George Perkovich, "The Nuclear Program Stalls," India's Nuclear Bomb: The Impact on Global Proliferation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999) p.220.

16 August 1979
Indian Prime Minister Choudhary Charan Singh warns that India might be forced to amass nuclear weapons if Islamabad goes ahead with efforts to assemble an atomic bomb.
--The New York Times, Information bank Abstracts, 16 August 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 16 August 1979, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

28 November 1979
The Unit-1 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station is shut down for its sixth refueling outage.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.7.

December 1979
The Zirconium Oxide Plant located at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) in Hyderabad is shut down because of a power shortage.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.8.

December 1979
The Zirconium Sponge Plant located at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) in Hyderabad is shut down.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.8.

4 December 1979
In a speech to the 23rd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Prime Minister Singh charges that "efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons thwart the peaceful development goals of poorer countries while leaving nuclear powers free to add to their arsenal."
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 5 December 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 5 December 1979, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

5 December 1979
Sigvard Eklund, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says that "when a developing country invests up to a billion dollars in a nuclear power plant, as India did with the Tarapur plant, it can legitimately expect an uninterrupted supply of fuel during the lifetime of the plant, provided it accepts a nuclear control treaty or comparable safeguards."
--The New York Times, Information Bank Abstracts, 5 December 1979, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 5 December 1979, http://web.lexis.nexis.com.

10 December 1979
India signs a protocol with Poland, which calls for cooperation between the two countries in the peaceful utilization of atomic energy during 1980-1981.
--Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, "Annual Report: 1979-1980," p.52.

	Updated November 2006