National Technology Day 2025: Date, History & Significance of May 11

National Technology Day 2025

Celebrated every year on May 11, National Technology Day honours India’s remarkable strides in science and technology, while reminding the nation of the power of innovation and self-reliance.

Instituted by the Government of India in 1999, National Technology Day commemorates a defining moment in the country's technological journey—the successful nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran in 1998 under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The day stands as a tribute not just to military advancements but to India’s growing capabilities in fields such as space, information technology, and biotechnology.

Why May 11 Is Important?

The date, May 11, holds historic importance. On this day in 1998, India successfully carried out Operation Shakti, a series of five nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan. This bold move not only established India as a nuclear power but also demonstrated the strength of its indigenous scientific and technological infrastructure.

Interestingly, May 11, 1998, also saw two other significant milestones:

• The successful test flight of the Hansa-3, India’s first indigenous aircraft, developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories.
• The test firing of the Trishul missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• These achievements, collectively, led to the declaration of May 11 as National Technology Day.

It is also a reminder of the importance of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in technology—an ethos that continues to drive policy decisions and national missions. Events on this day across schools, colleges, research labs, and industry bodies often include seminars, exhibitions, hackathons, and public lectures to encourage young minds to dream big and contribute to nation-building through technology.

At its core, National Technology Day is about more than past glories—it's about envisioning a future where innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability go hand in hand. Whether it’s in the form of deep tech start-ups, women in STEM, or AI-driven governance, the legacy of May 11 continues to ignite ambition in the generations to come.