A Day that Changed India’s Destiny
May 11, 1998, is etched in India’s scientific and strategic history. On this day, the country successfully conducted five nuclear tests under Operation Shakti in Pokhran, Rajasthan, announcing its arrival as a nuclear power on the global stage. On the same day, the indigenously developed Hansa-3 aircraft took its maiden flight, reflecting India’s capability in homegrown aerospace technology.
In recognition of these monumental achievements, the Government of India declared May 11 as National Technology Day in 1999. Since then, it has become a symbol of India’s innovation journey and scientific ambition.
YANTRA 2025: This Year’s Theme and Spirit
This year’s theme, unveiled by the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is:
“YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration.”
Rooted in Indian scientific and cultural heritage, YANTRA signifies mechanical ingenuity and systems thinking, while Yugantar represents a transformative epoch. Together, they signal India’s intent to lead the world not just in adopting technology, but in defining its future.
Technological Achievements That Have Shaped India’s Journey
1. Operation Shakti (1998): India’s Nuclear Milestone
On May 11, 1998, India conducted a series of five nuclear tests at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. Codenamed Operation Shakti, the tests demonstrated India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities and marked a turning point in the nation’s strategic defence posture. The successful execution of these tests under international scrutiny showcased India’s scientific expertise in nuclear physics, engineering, and high-precision technology. This landmark event led to the declaration of National Technology Day in 1999.
2. Unified Payments Interface (UPI): A Fintech Revolution
Launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, UPI has revolutionized the way Indians transact digitally. By enabling instant, 24×7 inter-bank transfers using a simple mobile interface, UPI has empowered users across urban and rural India. With over 14 billion monthly transactions as of early 2025, UPI has become one of the world’s most successful digital payment systems. It has been exported to countries such as Singapore, UAE, France, and Sri Lanka, establishing India as a global fintech leader.
3. Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): India’s Interplanetary Leap
Launched on 5th November 2013, Mangalyaan made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first in the world to do so on its maiden attempt. The spacecraft conducted critical studies on Mars’ surface, atmosphere, and mineral composition. Mangalyaan not only contributed valuable data to planetary science but also became a symbol of India’s cost-effective space innovation — the mission cost was just ₹450 crore (about $74 million), significantly lower than similar missions by other countries.
4. Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing: Precision at the Lunar South Pole
In August 2023, ISRO made history by becoming the first space agency to land near the Moon’s south pole with the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The mission’s lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyan, carried out surface analysis and confirmed the presence of sulfur and other elements in the lunar soil. This accomplishment strengthened India’s position in lunar exploration and paved the way for future collaborative and resource-utilization missions on the Moon.
5. Startup India Initiative: Scaling Innovation Across Sectors
Launched in January 2016, the Startup India Mission aims to create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs by offering tax exemptions, easier compliance, and funding support. By December 2024, India had registered 1.57 lakh startups, making it the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, after the U.S. and China. These startups span diverse sectors like healthtech, edtech, fintech, agritech, and clean energy, contributing to job creation and pushing forward grassroots innovation.
Outlook: Towards a Sovereign Tech Ecosystem
As India reflects on its technological journey this National Technology Day, the next decade promises to be even more transformative. The country’s focus is shifting decisively toward building a sovereign, scalable, and inclusive tech ecosystem — one that empowers not just innovation, but also independence in critical sectors.
Here are the core pillars of India’s upcoming tech trajectory:
Quantum Technologies: Powering the Next Frontier
India is rapidly advancing in the field of quantum computing, communication, and encryption. With the launch of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), the country aims to establish quantum labs, build satellite-based secure quantum networks, and develop indigenous quantum computers. These technologies are expected to revolutionize everything from cybersecurity and drug discovery to weather forecasting and defense encryption.
Green Hydrogen & Sustainable Energy
The future of energy lies in sustainability, and India is betting big on green hydrogen as a clean, scalable alternative to fossil fuels. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the goal is to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. This will help decarbonize heavy industries, power sectors, and mobility, all while reducing dependency on energy imports and meeting net-zero targets.
Semiconductor Design and Manufacturing
A truly self-reliant tech ecosystem needs control over chip design and fabrication. India is making concrete strides with the establishment of semiconductor fabs, including the Tata-PSMC plant in Gujarat, expected to go live by 2026. The government’s Semicon India programme, backed by a ₹76,000 crore incentive package, aims to make India a hub for not just assembly, but full-stack chip manufacturing and design — essential for everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles and AI systems.
AI for Bharat: Regional and Sectoral Empowerment
India’s AI ambition isn’t just about competing globally — it’s about solving grassroots problems. Startups and research labs are developing AI models trained in Indian languages, breaking language barriers in healthcare, education, legal services, and agriculture. Whether it’s helping doctors diagnose diseases in Tier-2 cities or providing crop advisories in local dialects, India-specific AI models are redefining inclusive innovation.
DPI 2.0: Expanding the India Stack
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — exemplified by Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and CoWIN — is being globally recognized as a replicable model. The next phase will see DPI expanding into logistics (ONDC), health (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), education (DigiEdu), and credit (Account Aggregator framework). These interoperable digital rails aim to democratize access, reduce transaction costs, and power innovation for MSMEs, startups, and rural users alike.
Together, these efforts mark India’s transition from being a technology consumer to a technology creator and global leader — ushering in an era of innovation that is deeply rooted in inclusivity, sovereignty, and sustainability.
