In news: National Technology Day is celebrated every year on May 11 to highlight the achievements of engineers and scientists in the field of technology and science.
Significance of the day-
- It was first observed on May 11, 1999, and aims to commemorate the scientific and technological achievements of Indian scientists and engineers.
- Former Indian PM Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee coined this term to celebrate the contributions made by Indian scientists.
- On May 11, 1998, India successfully fired the Shakti-I nuclear missile at an Army test range in Rajasthan’s Pokhran.
- India on this day also tested its first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa-3’ which flew from Bengaluru.
- After testing Hansa-3, India performed a successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day.
- Since 1999, the Technology Development Board has been honouring scientists and engineers and their technological innovations contributions that have aided in the growth of the nation.
- The National Award for Successful Commercialisation of Indigenous Technology is given in New Delhi by the President of India.
- The theme of the National Technology Day 2021 is “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”.
- The 2020 theme was “Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations’ or ‘RESTART’”.
Source: PIB
