India is observing the 25th National Technology Day on 11th May, 2023.
What is ‘National Technology Day’?
- It was first observed on 11 May, 1999.
- It aims to commemorate the scientific and technological achievements of Indian scientists and engineers.
- The day was named by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Every year, the Technology Development Board of India (a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology) celebrates the day by awarding individuals with National Award for their contribution to science and technology in India.
- The National Technology Day 2023 theme is “School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to Innovate”.
Background –
- It is the day India successfully tested nuclear bombs in Pokhran on May 11, 1998.
- India successfully test-fired its Shakti-1 nuclear missile in operation called Pokhran-II, also codenamed as Operation Shakti.
- The nuclear missile was tested at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. This was the second test which was conducted after Pokhran-I codenamed Operation Smiling Buddha, in May 1974.
- On the same day, India performed a successful test firing of the Trishul Missile (surface to air short range missile) and had test flown the first indigenous aircraft – ‘Hansa – 3’.
About Technology Development Board –
- The Government of India constituted the Technology Development Board (TDB) in September 1996, under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995, as a statutory body, to promote development and commercialisation of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. The board consists of 11 Board members.
- The TDB is the first organisation of its kind within the government framework with the sole objective of commercialising the fruit of indigenous research. The Board plays a pro-active role by encouraging enterprises to take up technology oriented products
- Functions – It facilitates interaction between industry, scientists, technocrats and specialists; fosters and innovation culture through contract and cooperative research between industry and institutions, and ; provides an interface with financial institutions and commercial banks for leveraging funds.
- The Fund has been receiving grants from the Government of India out of the cess collections from the industrial concerns under the provisions of the Research and Development Cess Act, 1986, as amended in 1995.
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