New Delhi, Aug 27 - Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta Thursday dismissed a top scientist's contention that the country needed to conduct more nuclear tests as those conducted in 1998 were inadequate. He also asserted that India's nuclear deterrence capabilities were 'proven and capable enough'.

'Our nuclear policy is that we will have no first strike. We maintain credible deterrence and we have the capability,' Mehta said when asked about the capabilities of India's nuclear arsenal.

'As far as we are concerned, we go by the views of the scientists. The scientists said the tests were enough. That capability is enough for us to maintain a credible deterrence and that is more than enough to deter anybody,' Mehta maintained.

He was responding to questions about a media report that quoted K. Santhanam, who coordinated the nuclear tests, called Pokhran II, in the Rajasthan desert, as admitting that the only thermonuclear device tested during Pokhran II was a 'fizzle.' A test is described as a fizzle when it fails to meet the desired yield.