From the deserts of Pokhran to the frontiers of space and digital transformation, India’s tech journey is rewriting global narratives.
By Dilshada Parveen
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Srinagar: Every year on May 11, India observes National Technology Day, a momentous occasion that commemorates the successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998. Those five underground tests not only demonstrated India’s scientific and strategic capabilities but also gestured to the country’s arrival on the global stage as a resilient and self-reliant technological power.
What started as a nuclear milestone has, over the years, evolved into a broader celebration of India’s innovation journey—a journey marked by determination, resourcefulness, and a bold vision for the future. The Pokhran tests were more than a demonstration of military capability—they were a declaration of technological sovereignty.
This assertion of self-reliance became the cornerstone for India’s defence indigenization efforts in the 21st century. Over the past decade in particular, India has emerged as a defence manufacturing and exporting power. The induction of TEJAS, the indigenously designed multi-role fighter aircraft, in 2016 was a historic achievement, symbolizing decades of dedicated aerospace research.
The Agni-V, a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile with a range exceeding 5,000 km, and the INS Vikrant, India’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier, have elevated India’s stature in global defence circles. Defence exports, which stood at a modest $100 million in 2013–14, have skyrocketed to $1.5 billion by 2021–22, with Indian-made systems like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air defence systems (ADS) gaining traction in countries across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
These gains have been driven by government initiatives such as ‘Make in India,’ reforms in defence procurement, and the increasing involvement of private industry in the defence ecosystem. If defence defined India’s self-reliance, space technology has come to symbolize its spirit of innovation.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved international acclaim for delivering high-impact results with remarkable cost efficiency. The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) (Mangalyaan) in 2014, launched on a shoestring budget of around $74 million, stunned the world by successfully placing a satellite into Mars’ orbit in its very first attempt .
The recent success of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, which marked India as the first country to land near the lunar South Pole, showcased ISRO’s growing technical prowess and international prestige. Looking ahead, missions like Gaganyaan (India’s first human spaceflight mission) and Aditya-L1 (the solar observatory mission) are set to further extend India’s leadership in space exploration.
Privatization reforms have opened the doors to a thriving space-tech start-up ecosystem, with firms like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos developing low-cost launch vehicles. Government bodies such as IN-SPACe and NSIL are enabling public-private collaboration, making India not just a space power but also a commercial space leader.
While rockets and missiles make headlines, it is India’s digital revolution that has touched the daily lives of its citizens in profound ways. Launched in 2015, the Digital India mission has brought technology to the masses, transforming governance, finance, healthcare, and education.
The rollout of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identification system, and UPI (Unified Payments Interface), which now handles over 8 billion transactions monthly, have revolutionized financial inclusion and digital payments. These tools have bridged the rural-urban divide and empowered citizens, particularly in underserved communities, by providing access to essential services at the click of a button.
India’s internet user base grew from 100 million in 2014 to over 800 million by 2023, while its start-up ecosystem has become the third-largest in the world, with over 100 unicorns. From edtech platforms like BYJU’S to fintech giants like PhonePe and Paytm, Indian start-ups are building scalable, home-grown solutions for global problems. India’s tech-driven transformation isn’t confined within its borders.
The India Stack, comprising Aadhaar, UPI, Digi Locker, and other digital public goods, has become a model adopted by nations such as Armenia, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone. This new form of technological diplomacy enhances India’s soft power and offers a replicable framework for inclusive digital governance worldwide.
At the heart of this vision are strategic missions like the Semiconductor Mission, aimed at reducing import dependence and creating a domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem. With production-linked incentives (PLIs) and foreign collaborations, India aspires to become a major player in the global electronics supply chain. India is also stepping into frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced materials.
Initiatives like the National AI Strategy and Quantum Mission signal India’s ambition to be not just a follower, but a frontrunner in the next wave of global innovation.
Despite the progress, challenges persist. Bridging the remaining digital divide, especially in rural and remote regions, remains a priority. Public and private R&D investment needs to scale up significantly to match global innovation leaders. Moreover, ensuring ethical and inclusive use of emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology will be crucial.
Yet, with a demographic dividend, a thriving entrepreneurial culture, and strong political will, India is uniquely poised to overcome these hurdles. National Technology Day serves as both a celebration and a reminder—a celebration of how far we’ve come, and a reminder of how much further we can go.
From the dry deserts of Pokhran to the moon’s surface and the vast digital landscape, India’s journey reflects more than just technological advancement—it reflects a transformation in mind set, capability, and global positioning. Today, India is not merely participating in the global tech race—it is helping shape its direction.
On this National Technology Day, India doesn’t just honour its past; it charts the course for a bold, inclusive, and innovative future. The legacy of Pokhran has blossomed into a full-spectrum innovation ecosystem that touches defence, space, digital life, and diplomacy. As the world confronts complex challenges, India stands ready—not only to solve them, but to lead with purpose, principle, and progress.
About the Author – Dilshada Parveen is a social activist and a writer. She can be reached at: kkhan795060@gmail.com
