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

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.

As India continues to evolve as a global tech hub, National Technology Day 2025 takes on even greater relevance. From breakthroughs in quantum computing, renewable energy, 5G rollout, and space missions to innovations in AI, digital health, and agritech, the day serves to celebrate the work of Indian scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and technocrats across sectors.