National Technology Day

National Technology Day

National Technology Day

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “National Technology Day”. The topic “National Technology Day” has relevance in the Science and Technology section for the UPSC CSE exam.

Relevance of the topic “National Technology Day”

For Prelims:
What is National Technology Day?
When is it celebrated?
For Mains:
GS 3:Science and Technology
What is the significance of National Technology Day?
What are the achievements made by India in the field of Science and technology?
Way Forward

Why in the news?

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh led a high-level joint meeting of various Science Ministries and departments to discuss plans for jointly observing National Technology Day on May 11th.

What is National Technology Day?

National Technology Day is an annual observance in India that commemorates the country’s technological achievements and highlights the importance of science and technology in India’s growth and development. 

The day is celebrated on May 11th every year to mark India’s successful nuclear tests in Pokhran on May 11th, 1998, which demonstrated the country’s capability to become a nuclear power. 

The theme of National Technology Day this year will be “Atal Tinkering Labs”. 

When is it celebrated?

It is celebrated on May 11th to create a cohesive and unified approach to celebrating the day and highlighting the importance of technology in India’s development.

What is the significance of National Technology Day?

  1. Celebrate the role of technology in our lives: The day serves as a reminder of the critical role that technology plays in the progress of a nation and encourages the development of new technologies in various fields such as agriculture, health, energy, and defence.
  2. Honour the works of scientists: The day is also an occasion to honour Indian scientists and engineers who have made significant contributions to the country’s technological advancements.

What are the achievements made by India in the field of Science and technology? 

India has made significant achievements in the field of science and technology in various domains. Here are some notable examples:

  1. Space Technology: India’s space agency, ISRO, has successfully launched numerous satellites and conducted various space missions. Some of the most significant achievements include the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), Chandrayaan-1 and 2 missions, and the successful launch of the GSLV MK III, India’s heaviest rocket. The Gaganyaan to be launched soon will place Indians in space. 
  2. Information Technology: India’s IT sector has grown rapidly in the past few decades and has become a major contributor to the country’s economy. The service sector is a major part of the economy. Indian IT companies are globally recognized for their expertise in software development, IT services, and business process outsourcing.
  3. Defence Sector: India has developed advanced weapon systems making use of the latest technology. The establishment of DRDO has produced a variety f indigenous aircrafts, missile systems etc.
    1. A-SAT mission known as Mission Shakti “killed” a missile in space.
    2. Indians have developed missiles like Prithvi, Agni which are one of the kind in the world. 
  4. Nuclear Technology: India is one of the few countries in the world that has developed nuclear technology indigenously. The country has developed nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants, and nuclear weapons.
  5. Agriculture: India is one of the world’s largest producers of food grains, fruits, and vegetables.
    1. The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 70s saw India become self-sufficient in food production, thanks to the adoption of new agricultural practices and technologies. It consequently led to India becoming the leading exporter of food grains as well.
  6. Healthcare: India has made significant progress in the field of healthcare, particularly in the development of affordable and accessible medical technologies. Some of the notable achievements include
    1. Low low-cost medical devices
    2. Telemedicine
    3. Eradication of polio
    4. India holds the title of “the pharmacy of the world” today.
    5. Web-based Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme

Way Forward

India continues to invest in research and development in these fields to drive growth and development in the country. India has also launched a series of missions to develop and exploit scientific temper among science enthusiasts. Some of the schemes are as follows:

  1. ATAL tinkering labs
  2. INSPIRE mission
  3. VAJRA scheme
  4. Technology-Based Entrepreneurship Development Programme (TEDP)
  5. IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT-2)
  6. Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE
  7. Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship
  8. Accelerate Vigyan
  9. Access to Knowledge for Technology Development and Dissemination (A2K+)
  10. Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Programme (AHFC)

Plutus IAS current affairs eng med 8th May 2023

Source: 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1922495

Plutus ias current affairs eng med 8 May 2023

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