Spotlight on National Technology Day - Operation Shakti

विद्या विवादाय धनं मदाय

शक्तिः परेषां परिपीडनाय।

खलस्य साधोर् विपरीतमेतद्

ज्ञानाय दानाय च रक्षणाय॥

"Knowledge is for resolving controversies, Wealth for intoxication, Power for oppressing others, This is the opposite of a wicked person, For the wise, it's for knowledge, charity, and protection."

The theme for National Technology Day 2024 is “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.

On May 11, 1998, India conducted three nuclear bomb test explosions at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range. Two days later, on May 13, two more bombs were tested. 

India's successfull conduction of three nuclear bomb test caused an international outcry at the time, and had cemented India’s status as a nuclear power. Since then May 11 is celebrated as the National Technology Day to honour Indian scientists, engineers and technologists, who worked for the country's scientific and technological advancement and ensured the successful conduct of Pokhran tests.

National Technology Day: Significance

- On 11 May 1998, the First indigenous aircraft "Hansa-3," was test flown at Bangalore.

- India performed a successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day.

- At that time very few countries have nuclear power and India had become one of those elite players and became the sixth country to join the nuclear club.

- Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) on 11 May,1998 was initiated.

Operation Shakti :- The tests, the first carried out by India since 1974, marked the culmination of years of work undertaken by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). According to DAE and DRDO the three tests conducted on 11 May were with a fission device with a yield of about 12 KT, a thermonuclear device with a yield of about 43 KT and a sub-kilo tonne device. All were detonated simultaneously and the thermonuclear device was designed to meet stringent criteria such as containment of the blast to minimise any chance of causing damage to buildings and structures in neighbouring villages. The 12 KT weapon was designed for tactical purposes such as aircraft bombs, missiles and artillery shells while the thermonuclear weapons were normally intended for strategic purposes.

India's Reasons for conducting operation Shakti :- 1. National Security :- Direct military threat from China and Pakistan - 1962 Sino China War has elevated the concern of war in future and Pakistan notorious nature and history of conflicts and war, forced Bharat to endeavour hard for being nuclear power nation. 

2. Failure of the international community to move toward nuclear disarmament - five nations ie UK, USA, Russia, France and China have earlier conducted the Nuclear Test and India became the 6th nation to be nuclear power country. To counter the international security, it was important test in queue to get finish. 

3. Strength respects strength - poors are always tortured it's the power and security that forces others to respect us. That's why defence sector is the priority for any nation to pivot as preventive measures are crucial to tolerate the conflicts or foreign attacks.

4. Domestic politics :- ruling party's manifesto had pivot to be nuclear power nation and Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji vision was to make India, a powerful nation and strong nuclear power country.

National Technology Day: 

1. Celebrations on this day TDB confer National Awards to the most noteworthy individuals, institutions, and businesses of the year.

2. The Department of Science and Technology, Department of Bio-Technology, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and several other scientific departments are part of this event.

3. The people are awarded for their contribution so that they excel more and more in their research by the President of India.

The ministry of science and technology also coordinates different events across India.

All the decorations and planning of the event should be done according to the theme.

Script, speech, or essay competitions are organised in several institutions.

Theme-based articles are also promoted etc.

Therefore, it is necessary to create interest and awareness about science and technology to the students. No doubt National technology Day is a great way to encourage the youth of the country to come forward and also is the way to appreciate the scientists, researchers for India's growing technology.