New Delhi, 11 May (H.S.): On the occasion of National Technology Day, Vice‑President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, and several other Union Ministers along with Chief Ministers of various states offered their greetings to the country’s scientists, engineers, innovators and researchers.

They hailed the scientific community as the backbone of India’s journey toward self‑reliance and technological leadership on the global stage.

In a message posted on X, the Vice‑President recalled that on this day in 1998, the nuclear tests at the Pokhran Test Range introduced the world to India’s remarkable scientific and technological capabilities. He described the tests as a decisive moment in the country’s movement toward self‑reliance and strategic strength, made possible by the talent and dedication of the Indian people.

The Vice‑President noted that science, innovation and technology have since made significant strides in India and continue to drive national development as well as progress for humanity at large. He reiterated that the nation will keep pursuing new frontiers of achievement in the scientific field.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pointed out that 11 May 1998 was the historic day when India showcased its scientific capacity, self‑confidence and strategic strength through the Pokhran‑II nuclear tests in Rajasthan. He described the Pokhran tests as a proclamation of the emergence of a self‑reliant, strong and decisive India.

Birla said that the tests gave India a new identity on the global stage and strengthened its security, sovereignty and technological capability. On this day, he paid tribute to the scientists, engineers and every Indian whose hard work and determination have taken the country to new heights in the field of technology and innovation. From Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan to Gaganyaan, from semiconductors and artificial intelligence to defence manufacturing and nuclear energy, India, he added, is rapidly moving toward a new era of self‑reliance and advanced technology, reinforcing the shared resolve to build a developed, technologically rich India.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said the Central government is accelerating India’s development by harnessing the country’s innovative potential through game‑changing initiatives. He added that National Technology Day should serve as an inspiration to build on past achievements and move even faster toward unprecedented progress.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saluted the dedication, innovation and resilience of scientists, engineers and researchers who are shaping India’s progress and strengthening the nation’s strategic capabilities. He expressed gratitude toward the scientists whose efforts made the 1998 Pokhran tests a success and noted that, under the far‑sighted leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is scaling new heights in technology, innovation and indigenous development, paving the way for a strong and future‑ready India.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the 1998 Pokhran tests, conducted under the leadership of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, marked the courageous rise of India as a confident and self‑reliant nation. He hailed the tests as a milestone in the country’s journey of national pride and scientific self‑confidence.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the historic Pokhran nuclear tests (Operation Shakti) as an extraordinary success that flew India’s flag of unyielding strategic skill and technological strength across the world. He said the outstanding research and innovation by scientists would continue to reinforce the foundation of a “New India”.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said it is the unwavering commitment and innovative power of scientists that has enabled India to create new benchmarks in the global technology landscape. She added that this scientific strength is the greatest force behind the shared resolve to build a developed India.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that technology is no longer just a tool for development but the key force turning the ‘developed India’ vision into reality. Under the far‑sighted leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, India is rapidly achieving new heights in technology and innovation, moving toward self‑reliance and leadership in fields such as Digital India, startups, semiconductors, space research, 5G and artificial intelligence.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar