National Technology Day

Tags: National Important Days

National Technology Day is observed every year on 11 May to honour the contributions of India's scientific community including scientists, researchers and engineers.

• Significance of the day

• It reminds people of the scientific achievements of the country.

• It is a day to honour all those who have contributed to the advancement of science.

• It honours the hard work and efforts of all those who have contributed to the technological progress of our country.

• Theme of the year 2022 -  An Integrated Approach to Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future.

• The theme was launched by Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

• History of the day 

• National Technology Day was first officially celebrated on 11 May 1999.

• The primary goal of this day was to recognize scientific and technological achievements.

• On May 11, 1998, India successfully carried out nuclear tests at the army’s Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.

• In doing so, India became the sixth country to join the 'nuclear club'.

• The test was led by the late APJ Abdul Kalam, an aerospace scientist who became the eleventh President of India.

• On the same day in 1998, India test-fired its first indigenous aircraft Hansa-3 which took off in Bengaluru.

• On that day, the surface-to-air missile Trishul was also successfully test fired.

• With many technological advancements in a single day, the Government of India announced the celebration of May 11 as National Technology Day.

• It was officially signed by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

• Since then, the Technology Development Board (TDB) which is a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology at the Centre is celebrating this day.