India's military on Friday conducted a successful test of a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, defence sources said.

The test of the Prithvi (Earth) missile was carried out from India's Integrated Testing Range at Chandipur-on-Sea, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Orissa's state capital Bhubaneswar.

"It was a user trial of the army version of the 150-250 kilometre-range Prithvi," a defence scientist said on condition of anonymity, adding the firing was conducted at 10:30 am (0500 GMT).

The 8.5-metre (28-foot) surface-to-surface missile, first tested in February 1988, can carry a one-tonne conventional or nuclear payload.

Nuclear-capable India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars, two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, routinely carry out missile tests but normally notify each other in advance under an agreement.