National Technology Day is observed on the 11th of May in India. It marks the anniversary of Shakti-I. It is the nuclear missile that was successfully tested at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Nuclear Tests of 1998. Apart from this, it celebrates our country’s progress in the field of science and technology. It is a day to applaud the innovators and scientists for creating products to be utilized by society. The first nuclear test code called ‘Smiling Buddha’ was carried out in the year 1974.
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When did it start?
After the Nuclear tests in Pokhran, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared India a nuclear state in the year 1999. The nuclear test was led by an aerospace engineer and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Later, India successfully test-fired two nuclear weapons as a part of Operation Shakti.
What happens on this day?
Every year on this day, the Technology Development Board of India awards various entrepreneurs and innovators for their creation, the award categories are as follows:
-Successful commercialization of indigenous technology
-Successful technology commercialization of MSME
-Technology Start-up
Apart from this, many engineering colleges, independent institutions and NGOs organise events, conferences and programmes to encourage students all across the country to come forward and appreciate the scientific achievements in the following year.
Other achievements the day marks followed by Nuclear Tests:
-On this day, India’s first indigenous aircraft, Hansa-3 was flown in Bangalore. The aircraft was a two-seater, light general aviation plane deployed for pilot training, environment-related projects, aerial photography, surveillance etc.
-On this day, the Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out the last test-fire of the Trishul missile which was a unit of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of India.
What is the theme for the year 2020?
There is no specific theme for this year but the theme for the year 2019 was “Science and Technology” for a sustainable future.
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