Mumbai, Maharashtra, 12th of May 2026 : As India marks the 28th anniversary of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, National Technology Day 2026 serves as a reminder of the country’s long-term commitment to scientific advancement and self-reliance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending greetings on National Technology Day, said the Pokhran tests reflected India’s “scientific excellence and unwavering commitment” and that technology had become a “key pillar in building a self-reliant nation.” He described scientists as the “true architects of the nation’s pride and self-respect.”
Official data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows that India’s total exports of goods and services reached about Rs.73.1 lakh crore in FY 2025–26. Of this, merchandise exports stood at approximately Rs. 37.6 lakh crore, while services exports were about Rs. 35.5 lakh crore. These figures underscore the growing role of trade and services in supporting India’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 has also highlighted the need for stronger investment in innovation, noting that India’s research and development expenditure remains at 0.64 percent of GDP. This points to the importance of sustained support for research, advanced technology, and knowledge-led growth as India works toward its long-term development goals.
The Union Budget 2026–27 further reflects this strategic focus, with a defence allocation of Rs. 7.85 lakh crore. The emphasis on technology, manufacturing, and strategic capability continues to shape India’s broader vision of national development.
Commenting on the occasion, Prabhat Kumar, Chairman (IRS), Pan IIT Alumni India said, “Today, we are witnessing a defining moment for India’s technological renaissance. The government’s launch of the National Quantum Mission, alongside the ‘SHAKTI’ policy framework and the historic Rs 1.2 lakh crore R&D allocation, marks a bold leap toward deep-tech self-reliance.”
PanIIT Alumni India is an umbrella organization representing alumni of all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The association organises events, seminars and symposiums focussed on technology and entrepreneurship and brings together thought leaders from government, industry, academia, and the IIT alumni community. The PanIIT Bangalore Summit 2026 is scheduled this week.
Kumar also called upon the alumni to come back from ‘Silicon Valley to the New Indus Valley’ and be part of India’s deep tech journey. “The days of incremental coding and service‑led growth are giving way to an era of fundamental science, hardware, and systems that will define the next half‑century. I urge each one of you to pivot toward deep‑tech research- quantum algorithms, post‑quantum cryptography, advanced materials, and indigenous fab lines. Let us build not just for India, but with India’s intellectual rigour. Let us mentor the next generation, file patents, and commercialise breakthroughs from our labs.”
India’s future competitiveness will depend not only on commemorating scientific milestones, but on deepening its commitment to research, innovation, and long-term technological capacity towards Atmanirbharta.
Kumar urged corporate leaders and industry captains to actively partner with the National Quantum Mission – fund chairs, sponsor deep‑tech incubators, and offer sabbaticals for IIT alumni to return to research. Your balance sheets can become engines of national pride, he emphasised.
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