National Technology Day
25th Anniversary of Operation Shakti
1998-2023
From early days, India has always advocated total nuclear disarmament. However, the efforts were not leading to any success and evolving geopolitical situation led to demonstrating Peaceful Nuclear Explosion capability in 1974. In 1998, the then government took a decision to demonstrate India’s nuclear deterrent capabilities by testing five different variants in May 1998.
Department of Atomic Energy, in general, and BARC in particular have faced severe embargoes and technology denials. The capabilities demonstrated in 1998 required obtaining expertise in variety of fields like physics simulation; development of complex processes for obtaining special materials; critical manufacturing capabilities, and developing reliable electronics systems etc. These capabilities are available with very few countries in the world and such a development is not possible without technological advancements in variety of fields. Apart from DAE, DRDO had also contributed significantly for success of the tests during 1998.
The development efforts of the country were recognized by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji to mark the occasion as National Technology Day from 1999 onwards. This is to honour Indian Scientists, engineers and technologists who worked for India’s scientific and technological advancement and successful conduct of Pokhran Test in May 1998. Since then, National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11. It is celebrated with a new and different theme every year. The theme of 25th National Technology Day celebrated on 11th May 2023 is “School to Startup – Igniting Young Minds to Innovate”. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji released a Commemorative Coin on this 25th National Technology Day.