Hyderabad: National Technology Day is observed in the country on May 11 to remember the contributions of scientists to the development of our country. Dedicated to the development of technology, this Day was first observed at the suggestion of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Due to the constant efforts of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, India was able to conduct a nuclear test in the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, with the help of the Indian Army on May 11, 1998. The nuclear test codenamed 'Operation Shakti' was a success with five simultaneous blasts at the Pokhran Test range.
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This was the second major nuclear test conducted in India after the 1974 test codenamed 'Operation Smiling Buddha' or 'Operation Smiling Krishna'. To honour the efforts of then President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, and the Indian Army, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared the day the test was conducted as National Technology Day and it was first observed by the Technology Development Council in the year 1999. Other significant operations carried out on May 11 were:
- The First indigenous aircraft "Hansa-3" was test flown at Bangalore, on May 11, 1998.
- A successful test firing of the Trishul missile was performed on May 11, 1998, as well.
Every year, the day is observed based on different themes, and in the year 2023, the theme for National Technology Day is based on the idea of 'Integrated Approaches to Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future'.
