National Technology Day

Every year on May 11 we observe the National Technology Day. This day marks the anniversary of Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998 and India's technological advancements in this space. Pokhran nuclear tests were a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range. On May 11, 1998, India successfully fired Operation Shakti missile at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, the first among the five nuclear tests in Pokhran. The test was led by aerospace engineer and late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Later, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared India a nuclear state, making it the sixth country to join the ‘nuclear club’ of nations. Hence, since 1999, May 11 is celebrated as “National Technology Day”.

National Technology Day is an occasion to recollect all the technological advancements in the field of agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and health etc. The occasion is very significant for the scientists, engineers and everyone who is an active participant in building our nation. The day glorifies the importance of science & technology and motivates the youth to adopt science as their career.

National Technology Day is celebrated with competitions, quizzes, lectures & presentations organised at schools, engineering colleges and technological institutions. On this day National Technology Award is given by the President of India to various companies and individuals for their contribution to science & technology. Also many events are organized by the Ministry of Science & Technology for the progress of science in our country. School students visit science laboratories, various Technology Development Centers, computer labs and Nano-Technology labs accompanied by their teachers to update themselves with the recent developments in the field of science, pharmacy, agriculture and information technology.

On this day our Educators engage themselves and the learners in a variety of activities. They help our children to make a science project on that day at home. Ask them to use material of low cost, like aluminium rolls, elastic bands, balloons, toothpicks and food colourant, etc., to make the project. Play word games and jigsaw puzzles related to science & technology, with them. They read science magazines to know more about use of technology in the various fields like, pharmacy, agriculture, health and infrastructure. They remember our famous Indian scientists and their discoveries. They plan a visit to science & technology museums, such as Nehru Planetarium, National Science Centre.