SUCCESS STORY IN BIG SCIENCE (1980-2000)

In 1983, The Second Technology Policy Statement recommended strategy of reverse engineering, which involves disassembling an engineering device to see how a system works in order to duplicate it for domestic industrial application.

During the 1980-90 decade the government inaugurated a number of ministerial-level departments with the avowed aim to close the gap in ever advancing technologies. Ministry of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy, Ministry of Ocean Research, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Information Technology and Electronics were established in the 80s.

It should, however be emphasized that in case of the big sciences, the priorities were largely determined by international geopolitical developments. During the Cold-war decades, e.g., Atomic Energy received as much as 41.2 percent of R&D grants. Following the Bangladesh War 1971, our Space Department received strong backing, as the United States had upgraded its military presence in the Indian Ocean and supplied advanced military hardware to Pakistan. And under the leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam India launched an ambitious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). During the two decades (1980-2000), the Defense establishments had, indigenously achieved self-reliance in many high-tech. fields of weapons, aerodynamics, and the missile technology. The Big War Science departments-Defence, Space, and Atomic Energy received enthusiastic political and state support that demonstrated India’s strength and techno-science potential.

In early hours of 18 July 1980, India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3 lifted off from Shar. On 16 September 1985, the First Missile test Trishul took place. On 25 February 1988, the first Guided Missile “Prithvi” and on 23 May 1989, “Agni” were test fired. Till then the Missile Technology had been considered the exclusive domain of a few superpowers. “Agni was like a bright flash on the Indian scientific firmament”, proclaimed Kalam. On May 11, 1998, five Hydrogen Bomb Tests were carried out at Pokhran code named “Shakti”, and India joined the Nuclear Club but refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.