National Technology Day is observed every year on 11 May to commemorate India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests conducted in 1998 and to celebrate the country’s achievements in science and technology. The day was declared by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 after Operation Shakti.
On 11 May 1998, India successfully conducted the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, establishing itself as a nuclear-capable nation. On the same day, the indigenous Hansa-3 aircraft completed its maiden flight, and the Trishul missile was successfully tested under DRDO’s missile programme.
The 2026 theme focuses on India’s advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, clean energy, digital infrastructure, and space technology. Recent achievements highlighted include Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, which achieved first criticality in 2026.
