reason for the development of human civilization. India
has been contributing to the fields of science and technology
since ancient times. Even today, what we term as ‘traditional
knowledge’ is actually based on scientific reasoning.
Pre-Independence
The history of scientific discoveries and development
in India dates back to the Vedic era. Aryabhatta, the famous
mathematician of the Vedic era, invented ‘zero’. It is believed
that ancient Indian scholars had developed geometric theorems
before Pythagoras had made them popular. The concept of
squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, fractions, and the ability
to express number 10 to the 12th power, algebraic formulae, and
astronomy have all had their origins in Vedic literature; some
are stated to have been known as early as 1500 BCE. The decimal
system was already in use during the Harappan Civilization.
This is evident in their use of weights and measures. Moreover,
the concepts of astronomy and metaphysics are all described in
the Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu text of the Vedic era.
From the complex layout of Harappan towns to the
existence of the Iron Pillar in Delhi, it is evident that India’s
indigenous technologies had been very sophisticated. They
included the design and planning of water supply, traffic flow,natural air conditioning, complex stone work and construction
engineering. The Indus Valley Civilization was the world’s
first to build planned towns with underground drainage, civil
sanitation, hydraulic engineering and air-cooling architecture.
While other ancient civilizations of the world were small towns
with one central complex, the Indus Valley Civilization had the
distinction of being spread across a region about half the size
of Europe. Weights and linguistic symbols were standardized
across this vast geography, for a period of over 1000 years, from
around 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE.
Water Management
Water has been the life blood of most major civilizations.
Criss-crossed by many great rivers, India is no exception to the
rule. Indians had been developing water management techniques
even before the Harappan time. Wells, ponds, lakes, dams and
canals have been constructed with advanced technologies
throughout the historic timeline of Indian civilization. Water
has been used for storage, drinking and purposes of irrigation.
It is estimated that even today, there are more than a million
man-made ponds and lakes in India.
Iron and steel
Iron and steel have literally been the pillars of modern
civilization. Ancient India was pioneer in developing the
technology of producing rust-free iron. This metal from India
was famous in contemporary Europe for sword making. The
famous Iron Pillar of Delhi is a testimony to that technology
which is almost rust free even today.
Farming Technique and Fertilizers
Indian farming technology was mostly indigenously
developed and was ahead of its time. It included soil testing
techniques, crop rotation methods, irrigation plans, application
of eco friendly pesticides and fertilizers, storage methods for crops, etc.
Physics
The concept of atom can be traced to the Vedic times. The
material world was divided into five elements, namely, earth
(Prithvi), fire (Agni), air (Vayu), water (Jal) and ether or space
(Akasha). Paramanu (beyond atom) was considered to be the
smallest particle, which cannot be divided further. Nuclear
energy is produced today splitting the same.
Medicine and Surgery
Ayurveda (Ayur means life, Veda means knowledge) is
probably the oldest structured system of medical science in
the world. Proper knowledge about various ailments, diseases,
symptoms, diagnosis and cure is the basis of Ayurveda. Many
scholars like Charaka and Susruta have made invaluable
contribution to Ayurveda by inscribing in written form, as found
in ancient manuscripts.
Shipping and Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding was one of India’s major export industries till
the British dismantled it and formally banned it. Medieval Arab
sailors purchased boats from India. Even the Portuguese, instead
of buying from Europe, also obtained their boats from India.
Some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated ships were
built in India and China. The compass and other navigation tools
were already in use in India, much before Europe. Using their
expertise in the science of maritime travel, Indians participated
in the earliest known ocean-based trading system.
Post-Independence
India has witnessed considerable growth in the field
of science and technology post Independence. Significant
achievements have been made in the areas of nuclear and space
science, electronics and defense. India has the third largest
scientific and technical manpower in the world. In the fieldof Missile Launching Technology, India is among the top five
nations of the world. Science and technology was brought into
the mainstream of economic planning, with the establishment of
the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in May 1971.
DST, today, promotes new areas in science and technology and
plays the role of a nodal department for organizing, coordinating
and promoting science and technology in the country.
Our country’s resources are used to get maximum output in
the field of agriculture and industry. Indian scientists are making
path-breaking research in the fields of agriculture, medicine,
biotechnology, cold regions research, communications,
environment, industry, mining, nuclear power, space and
transportation. Now, India has the expertise in the fields of
astronomy and astrophysics, liquid crystals, condensed matter
physics, molecular biology, virology, and crystallography,
software technology, nuclear power and defense research and
development.
Atomic Energy
The main objective of India’s nuclear energy programme is
to use it to generate power, and apply the technology for further
progress in agriculture, medicine, industry and research. India
is, today, recognized as one of the most advanced countries in
nuclear technology. Accelerators and nuclear power reactors
are now designed and built indigenously.
Space
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the
sixth largest space research organization in the world. It has
numerous milestones to its credit since its establishment in 1969.
India’s first satellite Aryabhatta was built by ISRO in 1975. It
was followed by many more. In 2008, Chandrayaan-1 became
India’s first mission to the moon. The Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO), under the Department of Space (DOS),
is responsible for research, development and operation in the
space through satellite communications, remote sensing for
resource survey, environmental monitoring, meteorological
services, and so on. India is the only Third World country to
develop its own remote-sensing satellite.
Electronics and Information Technology
The Department of Electronics plays promotional role
for the development and use of electronics for socio-economic
development. Application of electronics in areas such as
agriculture, health and service sectors has also been receiving
special attention. For upgrading the quality of indigenously
manufactured products, a series of tests and development
centres and regional laboratories have been set up. These
centres for electronic design and technology help small and
medium electronics units. Information Technology (IT) is one
of the most important industry in the Indian economy. The IT
industry of India has registered huge growth in recent years.
India’s IT industry grew from 150 million US dollars in 1990/91
to a whopping 500 billion US dollars in2006/07. In the last ten
years, the IT industry in India has grown at an average annual
rate of 30%.
Oceanography
India has a coastline of more than 7,600 km and 1,250
islands. The Department of Ocean Development was established
in 1981 to ensure optimum utilization of living resources,
exploitation of non-living resources such as hydrocarbons and
minerals and production of ocean energy. Two research vessels,
FORV Sagar Kanya and FORV Sagar Sampada, are assessing and
evaluating the resource potential.
Surveys and exploration efforts have been directed to
assess sea bed topography, and concentration and quality of
mineral nodules. India has sent 13 scientific research expeditions
to Antarctica since 1981, and has established a permanently
manned base, Dakshin Gangotri. A second permanent station,an entirely indigenous effort, was completed by the eighth
expedition. The objective was to study the ozone layer and
other important constituents like optical aurora, geomagnetic
pulsation and related phenomena. The National Institute of
Ocean Technology has been set up for the development of
ocean-related technologies.
Biotechnology
India has been the frontrunner among the developing
countries in promoting multidisciplinary activities in this
area, recognizing the practically unlimited possibility of their
applications in increasing agricultural and industrial production,
and in improving human and animal life. The National
Biotechnology Board was formed in 1982. The Department of
Biotechnology was created in 1986. The areas which have been
receiving attention are cattle herd improvement through embryo
transfer technology, in vitro propagation of disease- resistant
plant varieties for obtaining higher yields and development of
vaccines for various diseases.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
was established in 1942, and is today the premier institution
for scientific and industrial research. It has a network of 40
laboratories, two cooperative industrial research institutions and
more than 100 extensions and field centres. It plays a leading
role in the fulfilment of the technological missions supported
by the government.
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