National Technology Day a tribute to our scientists and engineers: Kiren Rijiju on 26 years of Pokhran-II nuclear tests

NEW DELHI: India on Sunday observed National Technology Day , commemorating the successful nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran on May 11, 1998, a landmark event that established the country as a nuclear power and underscored its growing technological prowess.

BJP leader Kiren Rijiju paid tribute to the occasion, posting on X, "On this day in 1998, India took a bold leap with the Pokhran tests, a moment etched in our history. Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared 11th May as National Technology Day, a tribute to our scientists & engineers whose brilliance continue to power India's journey of self-reliance."


The day not only marks the Pokhran-II nuclear tests (Operation Shakti), but also two other key technological achievements: the successful test-firing of the Trishul missile and the first test flight of the indigenously developed Hansa aircraft.

Following the tests, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee added the words "Jai Vigyan" to the iconic slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan." The following year, on May 11, 1999, India celebrated its first official National Technology Day, organised by the Council for Technology.

India is now among the eight nations globally known to possess nuclear weapons. Its nuclear doctrine follows a No First Use (NFU) policy and a credible minimum deterrence posture, built on decades of research, strategic vision, and indigenous development.

National Technology Day serves as a tribute to the contributions of Indian scientists and engineers and highlights the country’s strides in innovation, defence, and technological self-reliance.