Railway
National Technology Day is observed in India on:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — 11 May
Detailed Solution
National Technology Day is observed in India every year on 11 May.
Why 11 May:
On 11 May 1998, India successfully carried out three underground nuclear tests at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, under "Operation Shakti" (Pokhran-II). Two more tests were carried out on 13 May 1998.
After the tests, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared India a nuclear weapons state.
The tests were led by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (then Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and head of DRDO) and Dr. R. Chidambaram (Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission).
Other technological achievements on 11 May 1998:
- "Hansa-3", India's first indigenous light trainer aircraft, developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, flew successfully in Bengaluru.
- DRDO successfully test-fired the "Trishul" surface-to-air missile.
- National Technology Day was first observed on 11 May 1999, as declared by Prime Minister Vajpayee.
How it is observed:
- The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science and Technology gives National Awards for successful commercialisation of indigenous technology.
- Each year, a theme is chosen.
About India's nuclear tests:
India's first nuclear test, code-named "Smiling Buddha", was conducted on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was described as a "peaceful nuclear explosion".
After the 1998 tests, India announced a "No First Use" (NFU) nuclear policy.
Other science days:
National Science Day: 28 February (C. V. Raman's discovery of the Raman Effect, 1928).
National Space Day: 23 August (Chandrayaan-3 landed near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023).
World Students' Day: 15 October (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's birthday).
National Mathematics Day: 22 December (Srinivasa Ramanujan's birthday).
Why not the other options?
- ✗28 February is National Science Day.
- ✗23 August is National Space Day.
- ✗15 October is World Students' Day.
Quick tip
Remember: National Technology Day = 11 May (Pokhran-II, Operation Shakti, 1998; also Hansa-3 and Trishul); Smiling Buddha = 18 May 1974; National Science Day = 28 February; National Space Day = 23 August.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Defence Technology & Missiles Questions
View all ›- Q1.Which Indian missile is a short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile system?
- Q2.Which is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile?
- Q3.BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, has been developed jointly by the DRDO and:
- Q4.Pinaka, a multi-barrel rocket launcher system used by the Indian Army, was developed by:
- Q5.India's short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II is usually test-fired from:
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Defence Technology & Missiles — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Defence Technology & Missiles, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's defence technology: the missiles developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and later, their types and ranges, DRDO, defence equipment such as aircraft, tanks, submarines and warships, and military exercises with other countries. Common questions ask what type a missile is (Prithvi is surface-to-surface, Akash is surface-to-air, and Nag is anti-tank), which missile was developed with Russia (BrahMos), and which countries take part in a joint exercise. Lists of exercises and newly inducted equipment change often, so check current affairs as well. Practise the defence technology and missiles questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.