India making strides in frontier technologies

IN 50 years, India has made credible advances in space and nuclear technology, biotechnology and computer software.

A desire to indigenize frontier technologies for the betterment of Indians, a visionary leadership and far-sighted and committed Indian scientists have contributed to this.

Having confidence in the efficacy of space systems, India, a country with vast but still unexplored natural resources, is committed to establishing a space system.

India has capabilities in the design, development and operation of space systems, satellite technology and satellite launch vehicle technology, as well as their grass-roots level applications.

The locally built experimental satellite Aryabhatta, 1975, remote-sensing satellites Bhaskara I and Bhaskara II, 1979, and the experimental communications satellite APPLE, 1980, have not only validated technology developed by Indian scientists but led to the establishment of the Indian National Satellite and Indian Remote Sensing systems.

India's space-based remote-sensing technology has made rapid progress over the past 10 years. With the launch of IRS-IC, the world's best remote-sensing satellite in terms of spatial resolution of data, India joined a select group of countries with such capabilities.

Under the leadership and guidance of eminent nuclear scientists, India's atomic energy program began in earnest in 1948. The establishment of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission (1948) laid the foundation of nuclear technology use for peaceful purposes.

India is committed to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, particularly in power generation, medical applications and agriculture. With the philosophy, practice and self-reliance of the atomic energy program, it has emerged as India's bridge head of high technology.

India's nuclear expertise covers the whole cycle, including prospecting and mining uranium ores, making fuel elements, designing and fabricating reactor control systems, making heavy water, handling highly radioactive materials, fuel processing and safety of nuclear reactor and its allied installations.