Technical Revolution in India | UPSC Mains Essay Preparation PDF Download

Technical Revolution in India

structure

(1) Opening    —    Present scenario.

(2) Body    —    Agriculture.

        * New varieties * Biotechnology & Genetic engineering

    —    Animal Husbandry.

        * Embryo implantation, genetic engineering, cross breeding * Better feed and fodder

    —    Operation flood.

    —    Oil seed revolution.

    —    Aquaculture.

    —    Industry—engineering etc.

    —    Nuclear Power.

        * Energy * Isotopes

    —    Space

        * Satellites * Launch vehicles  * Spin off technology

    —    Frontier areas

        * Super conductivity * Fibre optics * Robotics and AI

    —    Information Technology.

        * Super Computer  * Parallel computers

    —    Defence.

(3) Closing    —    Still non-scientific out-look of people.

    —    Problems.

        * Basic areas * Detached to social needs

    —    Need to be more user & common people oriented.

It will not be an overstatement if we say that a technology revolution is taking place in India. India has now third largest population of scientists, engineers and doctors in the world. India has not only progressed immensely in the traditional areas of agriculture and industry but is about to take a giant leap even in the new and frontier areas of science and technology like space and robotics. Today, we can proudly proclaim self-sufficiency in food and at the same time, we are slowly moving in the direction of challenging USA, France, Russia and China in the commercial space market. This all-round development can indeed be called Technology revolution.

Let us first take agriculture. We have come a long way from PL 480 days. Today, we are in a position to export food—thanks to the hybrid varieties of crops that are faster growing, more productive and more disease resistant. The tool of biotechnology and genetic engineering is being used to produce even better variety of crops. Embryo implantation, artificial insemination and cross-breeding have helped us evolve new and better varieties of cattles. It is partly because of better varieties of cows that operation flood has proved successful. And now we have evolved better oil seeds and are on the brink of yellow revolution. Aquaculture and shrimp farming has led not only to catch more fishes but even gain by export earnings.

We have developed our industries a lot. From the days when we couldn’t even produce a needle at home, we have reached a stage that aeroplanes, tractors, automobiles, earthmoving machinery, machine tools are not only being produced but even exported. Two most remarkable achievements have been in the fields of space and nuclear power.

From 1974 Pokharan test to today, we have reached to the point where we have 4 nuclear power plants and one more is coming up in Karnataka. Now, we have developed capability not only to construct plants indigenously but even produce coolants (Heavy water) and fuel (Uranium, Thorium, Plutonium). We have developed technology not only for thermal reactors but also fast breeder reactors. A number of experimental reactors are set up like Dhruva and Apsara which are being used to study radiations, produce isotopes and new particles. Isotopes are being used in medicines. Gamma rays are used for sterlizing food. These studies are also immensely useful in theoretical physics.

In space technology we launched Aryabhatta, the first indigenous satellite. Bhaskara and Rohini followed. We have already INSAT-1 series that immensely boosted telecommunication and weather forecast. Now, we are launching INSAT-2 series to replace INSAT-1 series and also to provide additional services. Also, IRS series of satellites have been launched which will help in resource mapping and study of atmosphere. We developed SLV rocket technology to launch small satellites of 100 kg. It was modified to develop ASLV to launch Rohini series. Today, we have developed PSLV to launch 1000 kg IRS satellites in sun synchronous orbits. GSLV is also being developed which herald India’s entry into global space market that is highly profitable and has a bright future.

As a spin off from space and nuclear programmes, new technologies in the field of 

metallurgy, electronics, control systems, safety equipments, radiation and isotopes have been evolved that are today being given to private firms that will help to commercialize it.

In other frontier areas like super conductivity, optical fibres and robotics, research is being carried out in IISc, IITs, BARC etc. India has been able to develop its own superconductor. Also, optical fibre technology is on the brink of being commercialised.

In the area of information technology, India has developed its own Mainframe PCs and even supercomputers. PARAM evolved by Anurag is as good as the best available supercomputers. India is also evolving AI and robotics. Already Chaturobot has been developed. Also, India has progressed immensely in telecommunications. RAX is only one example. Others include package networking, Gateways, E-Mail etc. Also, India has already commissioned INMARSAT Land Earth Station at Arvi.

India is also not lacking in defence preparedness. Be it Tank Arjun or INSAS for Army, PTA for Air Force or Missiles, India has kept itself alert and ahead...Agni, Nag, Prithvi and Akash are Indian missiles that can break enemy’s backbone.

This brief survey shows that India has indeed taken a giant leap in almost every field but we still find majority of our people are bound by obscurantist traditions, rituals and superstitions. They are ignorant and lack scientific temper. Hunger, disease and poverty has still not been won over. India has world’s one third hungry people. 40% live below poverty line. Basic education, good and cheap housing, nutritious food and safe and clean drinking water are still a dream for many. The reason is that many technologies remain in the laboratory and do not reach masses. Research is being done independently of social milieu which should not be. In addition, bureaucratisation of our institutions, also creates hurdles in the path of technology transfer from laboratory to land.

So, we should rethink our strategy, reorient our research so that it becomes practical and of direct use in uplifting standards of living. Science and technology be used to wipe tears from every eye and bring smile to every face.