Anil Kakodkar, director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) today said India could now build minimum credible deterrence around the nuclear devices tested in Pokharan last year.

Kakodkar was speaking today to mediapersons before attending the convocation ceremony of 96th course of National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla.

Kakodkar said,``We have demonstrated the perfect working of five devices. We now have the capability of very robust systems for thermonuclear device, sub-kiloton device and the standard fissile device, tested successfully last year.''

On the strength of India's nuclear arms development programme vis-a-vis Pakistan, Kakodkar reacted, ``We are confident that whatever will be done, will be perfect.''

``We have not copied anybody's design, we have developed our nuclear devices indeginously. Imitations can never make you a leader,'' he added. Later, delivering the chief guest address at the convocation Kakodkar described India's nuclear weapon programme ``as a spin-off because it became inevitable for our security.''

By adopting innovative approach one can often surpass competitors of adversaries with much lesser resources. ``We should realise that this in fact is the key to success in making faster progress in relative terms in all spheres, be it economic activity or military activity,'' he said.

On India's nuclear reactor programme, Kakodkar said, the country, in coming years will have an advanced heavy water reactor for 200 MW power generation. It would be the first of its kind in the world which will use thorium as a nuclear fuel for power generation, he said.

This would be a step forward towards long-term energy security of the country as thorium is available in abundance in the country.

"We have gone through exercises of developing feasibility design of the reactor. Right now work is on the detailed engineering design and engineering development plan,'' he said. By the end of 9th plan we should be in a position to build the reactor, he added.

He said a pilot version thermal reactor of 30 kilo watt capacity was being successfully operated by BARC using thorium. ``The reactor would be one of the most innovative one in terms of safety as well as operator friendliness,'' he added.

Of the 281 cadets of the 96th course, 195 were conferred with a degree in science and 86 in social science by Jawaharlal Nehru University. Cadet Sumeet Gard stood first in the science stream scoring a cumulative grade point average of 8.8 - the highest score by any cadet in the history of academy. Cadet Chandra Vijay Singh Mankotia stood first in social science stream.

Lt Gen SBS Kochar, commandant, NDA, in his welcome address lauded the services rendered by Dr Kakodkar in the field of nuclear power development and nuclear self-reliance.