GS Paper 3:
Topics Covered: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context:
Since 1999, May 11 is celebrated as National Technology Day to mark India’s technological advancements.
The theme of Year 2022 is: “Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”.
Significance of the day:
- On May 11, 1998, India detonated three nuclear bombs in the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range.
- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam lead the Indian team of scientists to successfully test-fire the Shakti-1 nuclear missile at Rajasthan’s Pokhran test range.
- Two days later, the country successfully tested two more nuclear weapons as a part of the same Pokhran-II/Operation Shakti initiative. After these tests Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared India a nuclear state, making it the sixth country to join the ‘nuclear club’ of nations.
- 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.
Technology Development Board India:
On the occasion of National Technology day, TDB hosts scientific-technology based webinars and felicitate individuals for excellent works in the field of Science and Technology every year.
- Established in 1996, TDB is a statutory body that works under the Department of Science and Technology, GOI.
- It also provides financial assistance for concerns of Indian industries and other agencies for commercialization of indigenized technologies or adoption of imported technologies for wider domestic applications.
Note:
India is currently among nine countries in the world that have a publicly known nuclear weapons.
- In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed “Smiling Buddha”, at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Nuclear states around the world.
- What is Trishul?
- What is Operation Buddha?
- Significance of National Technology Day.
Mains Link:
Discuss the significance of the National Technology Day.
Q.4) Consider the following statements:
- In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed “Smiling Buddha”, at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
- Technology Development Board India is a statutory body.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 only.
- 2 only.
- Both.
- None of the above.
Sources: pib.
