India's technological heritage dates back to the times of Indus Valley Civilization, which had developed sophisticated technologies for metallurgy, town planning and construction, hydraulics, navigation, food processing and even surgery. Carrying forward the spirit of innovation of our ancestors, numerous scientists and technologists in post-independence India have worked to create new and powerful technologies that have assured peace and security for the nation, powered economic development leading to prosperity  and catalysed social change through bringing about equity and evoking self respect among the population.

These technological contributions and their pervasive influence get rarely noticed in the day-to-day life of the nation. But from time to time, they seize public imagination with the sheer audacity of their accomplishments, as for instance the recent launch of the INSAT-2E satellite and the test firing of the Agni-11 missile.

India is one of the few nations in the world with satellite launch capabilities. The mastery over space technologies has revolutionized the forecasting and management of natural disasters and greatly reinforced the nation's defence capabilities, apart from changing the face of our telecommunications services. The tactical support that our scientists and technologists have provided to the armed forces through design and fabrication of a wide range of tactical missiles, combat aircraft, armour and radar systems have been crucial to the country' security. Indian nuclear scientists and technologists are among the few who have successfully mastered the entire nuclear fuel cycle and production of atomic materials. It is due to their efforts that India today can boast of indigenous capabilities in establishing atomic power projects and weapons systems.

The  Green  Revolution   ushered   in  by  our  agricultural technologists has enabled India to become self-sufficient in food grains production. Further strides in this field are now being made through biotechnology and genetic engineering. The doubling of life expectancy since independence and the general improvement in the standard of health of our people has been in no small measure the outcome of indigenous technological development in drugs, therapeutics and health-care systems.

Indian industry has grown more than twenty fold in the 50 years since independence and encompasses the entire gamut of industrial and consumer products. The tiny and small-scale sectors driven by native spirit of innovation and enterprise are today helping in distribution of opportunities and incomes to the remotest comers of the country.

The 11th of May 1998 was a special day in the history of India's technological progress, Three  momentous events took place on the day that did the nation proud, namely the triple successful nuclear explosion at Pokhran, the successful test firing of the Trishul Missile and the maiden certification test flight of Hansa-3, the first-all-composite indigenous two-seater aircraft. In recognition  of these signal contributions of Indian scientists and technologists to national prestige, prosperity and well being, 11th May has been declared as National Technology Day. The Department of Posts is proud to issue this commemorative postage stamp, to mark the first anniversary.

The stamp depicts the globe with three orbits girdling it. In one orbit is depicted the Insat-2E satellite and the Hansa aircraft, in another the Trishul Missile and in the third the wheat plant signifying the achievements of our agricultural scientists. The globe with three orbits could also be conceived as an atom with its nucleus and the orbiting electrons, thus representing the achievements of our nuclear scientists.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India