Observed every year on May 11, National Technology Day acts as a reminder of India’s technological advancements. Notably, on this day, India successfully tested Shakti-I nuclear missile at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
The operation was led by late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and was called Operation Shakti or Pokhran-II.
Two days later, India successfully test fired two nuclear weapons as part of Operation Shakti. In a way, National Technology Day highlights the importance of science in daily life and encourages youngsters to embrace it as a career option.
National Technology Day will be celebrated on May, 11 focusing on rebooting the economy through Science and Technology.
The conference will bring together Scientists, Technocrats, Diplomats, WHO officials and dignitaries from national and international Industry, Research Institutions and Academic Institutions. Science and Technology Ministry said, in the COVID 19 crisis, technology has been at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic.
Keeping in mind the need of the hour to formulate a comprehensive action plan to reboot the economy, Technology Development Board is celebrating National Technology Day, focusing on technological solutions towards that end.
These technologies would include, medical technologies, advanced technologies and manufacturing that would prepare India for the post Covid-19 time. The Ministry said, every year on 11th of May National Technology Day is celebrated to commemorate achievements of innovations and technological excellence in the country.
Shakti, the Pokhran Nuclear Test, the first nuclear test code named ‘Smiling Buddha’ was carried out in May 1974.
The second test conducted was Pokhran II which was a series of five tests of nuclear bomb explosions carried out by India at the Pokhran Test Range of Indian Army in May, 1998. Notably, these nuclear tests evolved various sanctions against India by many major states, including United States and Japan.
Why National Technology Day is celebrated?
The purpose of celebrating National Technology Day is to commemorate the major technological breakthroughs, achievements and contributions of our Indian scientists and engineers. It was on this day in 1998 that India conducted Pokhran-II where Shakti-I nuclear missile was tested at the Pokhran Test Range of Indian Army in Rajasthan. Prior to this, Pokhran-I nuclear test was conducted in May 1974. The day was coined by then PM Atal Bihari Bajpayee.
Various events are held on this day. Various awards are given to innovative scientists and engineers, entrepreneurs under various categories like successful commercialization of indigenous technology, successful technology commercialization by MSME and Technology Start-up.
