GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1472
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15-07-2009
NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY

1472. SHRI K.J.S.P. REDDY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYbe pleased to state:

(a) whether the National Technology Day is celebrated annually;
(b) if so, the details thereof including its aims and objectives; and
(c) the goals set by the Government for development of Science and Technology during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The National Technology Day is celebrated by various institutions on 11th May annually across the country since 1999. The objective of celebrating the Technology Day is to commemorate technological achievements and to encourage Indian entrepreneurs/innovators through awards and recognitions and to showcase the technologies developed indigenously both by public and private institutions.

(c) The goals set by the Government for development of Science and Technology during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period include enlarging the pool of scientific manpower and strengthening the Science and Technology infrastructure and attracting and retaining young people to careers in science; implementing selected National Flagship Programmes which have direct bearing on the technological competitiveness of the country in a mission mode; establishing globally competitive research facilities and centres of excellence; kindling an innovative spirit among scientists to translate R&D leads into scalable technologies; developing new models of Public-Private Partnerships in higher education, particularly for research in universities and high technology areas and promoting strong linkages with advanced countries, including participation in mega international science initiatives.