The National Technology Day celebrates major achievements which were considered a groundbreaking and important contribution of scientists and engineers in the field of science and technology.

  • The day is a significant milestone in the history of India’s technological innovations as India successfully tested nuclear bombs in Pokhran on May 11, 1998.
  • The focus this year was ‘Commercialising Indigenous Technologies: Journey from Benchside to Business Programme’ and dignitaries suggested ways to take this forward.

The National Technology Day occupies an important place in the technological innovations for India for it is the day India successfully tested nuclear bombs in Pokhran on May 11, 1998. The National Technology Day was named by the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee on May 11 as a reminder of India’s technological achievements.

On May 11, 1998, India successfully test-fired its Shakti-1 nuclear missile in operation called Pokhran-II, also codenamed as Operation Shakti. The nuclear missile was tested at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. This was the second test which was conducted after Pokhran 1 codenamed Operation Smiling Buddha, in May 1974.

Every year the Technology Development Board of India (a statutory body) celebrates the day by awarding individuals with National Award for their contribution to science and technology in India. President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind emphasised on the common attributes of the technologies awarded. “First, they offer solutions that are necessary for the Indian context and contribute to the social and economic needs of our people. Second, they achieve all this at competitive prices. Third, and this to my mind is the most critical, they don’t compromise on quality,” he said. The day also commemorates the flight of Hansa-1, India’s first-ever indigenous aircraft developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories. Lastly, on this day, the DRDO – Defense Research and Development Organisation last test-fired the Trishul missile, which is a surface-to-air, short-range missile, quick reaction.