National Technology Day (11th May) is observed in India to commemorate the history of India’s technological innovations and excellence. On this day, 11th May in 1998, India achieved a major technological breakthrough by successfully carrying out series of nuclear tests at Pokhran (Rajasthan). Also the First Indigenous Aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown from Bangalore on this day and India also performed successful test firing of the Trishul Missile on the same day. Considering the technological advancements, Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared 11th May to be celebrated as National Technology Day every year.
Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti) was the series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in May 1998. It was the second Indian nuclear test; the first test, code-named Smiling Buddha, was conducted in May 1974 (Wikipedia).
Development and Test Teams
Project Chief Coordinators
- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (President of India), Scientific Adviser to the prime minister and Head of the DRDO.
- Dr. R. Chidambaram, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Atomic energy.
Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)
- Dr. K. Santhanam; Director, Test Site Preparations.
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research
- Dr. G. R. Dikshitulu; Senior Research Scientist B.S.O.I Group, Nuclear Materials Acquisition
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
- Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Director of BARC.
- Dr. Satinder Kumar Sikka, Director; Thermonuclear Weapon Development.
- Dr. M. S. Ramakumar, Director of Nuclear Fuel and Automation Manufacturing Group; Director, Nuclear Component Manufacture.
- Dr. D.D. Sood, Director of Radiochemistry and Isotope Group; Director, Nuclear Materials Acquisition.
- Dr. S.K. Gupta, Solid State Physics and Spectroscopy Group; Director, Device Design & Assessment.
- Dr. G. Govindraj, Associate Director of Electronic and Instrumentation Group; Director, Field Instrumentation.
Facts about Indian National Technology Day
- On May 11, 1998, India detonated three nuclear bombs in the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range.
- Hansa 3, India’s first indigenous aircraft was first tested on the same day in 1998 in Bangalore.
- Successful test firing of Trishul, a short range missile made in India, was also done on the same day.
- Every year, on 11th May, the “Technology Development Board of India” awards various individuals with national awards for their contribution to indigenous technology.