Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan: CM Blogs on National Technology Day

Published By : Admin | May 11, 2013 | 14:09 IST

Dear Friends,

11th May 1998- this is the day when India scripted a new chapter in its history and gave out a strong message to the world and to all those who questioned our credentials as a nation all set to make the transition to the next century as an emerging Superpower. It was on this day 15 years ago that India conducted Nuclear Tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan. As honorable Atal ji announced the success of the tests, an entire nation rejoiced. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Maharashtra to Manipur, there was a feeling of pride amongst every Indian. Even the Indian community spread across the world erupted with joy!

To commemorate these historic tests, 11th May is celebrated as National Technology Day. I extend my best wishes and greetings to all my fellow countrymen and especially the scientist community on this momentous day.

The tests of 11th May 1998 were possible both due to the stellar work of our scientists and the strong leadership India was blessed with at that point of time. The tests were a victory of technology- to develop such a programme with requisite secrecy is truly a commendable effort. No mention of Pokhran 1998 is complete without extolling the pioneering efforts of our scientists.

Most importantly, tremendous courage was shown by the then Government, headed by respected Atal ji to take the decision of conducting the tests. The BJP-led Government had not even completed two full months in office and yet, on the auspicious day of Buddha Purnima (11th May 1998), the Government took the bold step of testing and making India immensely proud.

After the 11th May 1998 tests, the world community was not amused. They immediately put sanctions on India and tried to isolate us from the world stage. Yet, in only two days, on 13th May 1998, we tested again! More strength was needed to test two days after the first test in an international climate that was not very favourable and this only shows what a strong leadership can do!

When the tests were conducted the nation was ecstatic. But what even a matter of great joy and pride is that the Vajpayee Government ensured that the sanctions do not affect India’s development journey in any way. Such was Honorable Atal ji’s and the Government’s strategy on foreign and diplomatic issues that those nations that were opposed to India testing, gradually developed strong relations with India again. Atal ji won back India’s friends at the world stage yet there was no compromise on principles and national interest. Our inherent strength shined and we moved ahead without any damage to our economy. This was very much a test of our political will and needless to say, we passed the test with flying colours.

Today, on the 15th anniversary of the Pokhran tests, there is a crucial question that we have to answer- how do we become self-sufficient in defence manufacturing? This is not only about military power but also about being self reliant for our own defence equipment. After over 65 years of Independence, why must we still spend thousands of crores of rupees to procure defence equipment from overseas? This is a challenge for our youth, talent pool, scientists- how we can combine our strengths and make India sufficient in defence related manufacturing!

We should think of a larger debate, encourage free flowing of ideas to think of how India can develop human resources in defence manufacturing. Can we create an ecosystem to strengthen our manufacturing? Going a step ahead, we should even think of how we can export defence equipment?

In Gujarat we have made a small effort in this regard. In our engineering colleges we are working towards starting subjects related to defence manufacturing. At the 2013 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit we organized the ‘International Conference on Defence Offsets’ where there was a very healthy exchange of thoughts and ideas on this field.

Once again, I greet my fellow countrymen on National Technology Day. Let us remember the spirit of Pokhran, celebrate technology and use it to further strengthen our Nation. I am also sharing a video of Atal ji where he talks about the relevance and success of the Pokhran tests.

Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan!

Narendra Modi

Explore More
अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण

लोकप्रिय भाषण

अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण
AI will augment, create new jobs in India: World Bank

Media Coverage

AI will augment, create new jobs in India: World Bank
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
...
India AI Impact Summit 2026: Shaping a human-centric future for AI
February 22, 2026

At a defining moment in human history, the world gathered at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. For us in India, it was a moment of immense pride and joy to welcome heads of state and government, delegates, and innovators from across the world.

India brings scale and energy to everything it does, and this summit was no exception. Representatives from over 100 nations came together. Innovators showcased cutting-edge AI products and services. Thousands of young people could be seen in the exhibition halls, asking questions and imagining possibilities. Their curiosity made this the largest and most democratized AI summit in the world. I see this as an important moment in India’s development journey, because a mass movement for AI innovation and adoption has truly taken off.

Human history has witnessed many technological shifts that changed the course of civilization. Artificial intelligence belongs in the same league as fire, writing, electricity, and the Internet. But with AI, changes that once took decades can unfold within weeks and impact the entire planet.

AI is making machines intelligent, but it is even more of a force multiplier for human intent. Making AI human-centric instead of machine-centric is vital. At this summit, we placed human well-being at the heart of the global AI conversation, with the principle of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (Welfare for All, Happiness of All).

I have always believed that technology must serve people, not the other way around. Whether it is digital payments through UPI or COVID vaccination, we have ensured that digital public infrastructure reaches everyone, leaving none behind. I could see the same spirit in the summit, in the work of our innovators in domains like agriculture, security, assistance for persons with disabilities, and tools for multilingual populations.

There are already examples of the empowering potential of AI in India. Recently, Sarlaben, an AI-powered digital assistant launched by Indian dairy cooperative AMUL, is providing real-time guidance to 3.6 million dairy farmers, mostly women, about cattle health and productivity in their own language. Similarly, an AI-based platform called Bharat VISTAAR gives multilingual inputs to farmers, empowering them with information about everything from weather to market prices.

Humans must not become data points, raw material for machines

Humans must never become mere data points or raw material for machines. Instead, AI must become a tool for global good, opening new doors of progress for the Global South. To translate this vision into action, India presented the MANAV framework for human-centric AI governance.

M – Moral and ethical systems: AI should be based on ethical guidelines.
A – Accountable governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight.
N – National sovereignty: Respect for national rights over data.
A – Accessible and inclusive: AI should not be a monopoly.
V – Valid and legitimate: AI must adhere to laws and be verifiable.

MANAV, which means “human,” offers principles that anchor AI in human values in the 21st century.

Trust is the foundation upon which AI’s future rests. As generative systems flood the world with content, democratic societies face risks from deepfakes and disinformation. Just as food carries nutrition labels, digital content must carry authenticity labels. I urge the global community to come together to create shared standards for watermarking and source verification. India has already taken a step in this direction by legally requiring clear labeling of synthetically generated content.

The welfare of our children is a matter close to our hearts. AI systems must be built with safeguards that encourage responsible, family-guided engagement, reflecting the same care we bring to education systems worldwide.

Technology yields its greatest benefit when shared, rather than guarded as a strategic asset. Open platforms can help millions of youth contribute to making technology safer and more human-centric. This collective intelligence is humanity’s greatest strength. AI must evolve as a global common good.

We are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems will co-create, co-work, and co-evolve. Entirely new professions will emerge. When the Internet began, no one could imagine the possibilities. It ended up creating a huge number of new opportunities, and so will AI.

I am confident that our empowered youth will be the true drivers of the AI age. We are encouraging skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning by running some of the largest and most diverse skilling programs in the world.

India is home to one of the world’s largest youth populations and technology talent. With our energy capacity and policy clarity, we are uniquely positioned to harness AI’s full potential. At this summit, I was proud to see Indian companies launch indigenous AI models and applications, reflecting the technological depth of our young innovation community.

To fuel the growth of our AI ecosystem, we are building a robust infrastructure foundation. Under the India AI Mission, we have deployed thousands of Graphics processing units and are set to deploy more soon. By accessing world-class computing power at highly affordable rates, even the smallest start-ups can become global players. Further, we have established a national AI Repository, democratizing access to datasets and AI models. From semiconductors and data infrastructure to vibrant start-ups and applied research, we are focusing on the complete value chain.

India’s diversity, democracy, and demographic dynamism provide the right atmosphere for inclusive innovation. Solutions that succeed in India can serve humanity everywhere. That is why our invitation to the world is: Design and develop in India. Deliver to the world. Deliver to humanity.

Source: The Jerusalem Post

The writer is the Prime Minister of India.