2024 National Technological Day, Background, Theme and Significance
Important Day
4 min read
Every year, India observes 11th May as the National Technological Day to celebrate its technological and scientific prowess. The day aims to inspire youngsters and to create awareness about the country's scientific and technological achievements.
It commemorates India’s success in using science and technology to address the challenges facing the country.
On this day, the government of India announces the names of the winners of the Rashtriya Vigyan Purashkar, or the National Science Awards.
Background to the National Technological Day
The first National Technological Day was observed on 11 May 1999, commemorating the anniversary of the Pokhran nuclear test conducted on 11 May 1998.
The decision to observe 11 May as National Technological Day was announced by the National Council for Technology Development during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's prime ministership.
The objective was to highlight the scientific and technological advancement of the country since independence.
Significance of the 1998 Pokhran Nuclear Test
- India conducted five nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan, on 11 and 13 May 1998. The test was code-named Operation Shakti.
- It was conducted jointly by the Atomic Energy Commission and the Defence and Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the leadership of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
- Four nuclear weapons and one thermonuclear (Hydrogen) weapon were successfully tested by India.
- India became the sixth country after the United States of America, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and China to possess nuclear weapons.
- Pakistan tested its nuclear weapon in 1998, and North Korea in 2006. Israel has not tested any nuclear weapon but it is believed to have a nuclear weapon. Thus, at present, nine countries are believed to have nuclear weapons.
- India had earlier conducted a Nuclear test code-named Smiling Budha on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran. India claimed that the test was a Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (PNE), a scientific experiment for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and was not meant for making nuclear weapons.
- The 1998 nuclear aim was to demonstrate India’s capability to make nuclear weapons, and it officially became the sixth country in the world to do so.
Theme of the 2024 National Technology Day
The theme for National Technology Day 2024 is “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.
The theme emphasises nurturing schoolchildren to start their own start-ups and contribute to making India the hub of startups in the world.
India has emerged as the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the United States and China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi on 30 March 2024, said there are more than 1.25 lakh startups in India and 110 Unicorns.
