Beyond Independence; This Is Where India Stands In Technology

It’s been 65 years since India, the world’s largest democracy started to walk on its own. From an era of underdevelopment, our country has grown and is now just a few steps away from becoming one of the superpowers in the world. The nation has made its undeniable presence in almost all the fields ranging from ultra-modern technologies to nuclear fields.

In the time of its 65^th birthday celebration, here we list the progresses that India made and where does it stand now in fields of space technology, nuclear science, telecommunication, computers and IT.

India in Space

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), headquartered in Bangalore, powers India’s space dreams. In 2008, with its Chandrayaan-1 mission, India became the fourth ever country to touch down on the lunar space. India’s next ambitious mission, Chandrayaan-11 is proposed to be launched in 2014 which will place a wheeled rover on the moon’s surface. Adding to it, the Union Cabinet recently gave go-ahead to the Mars mission, clearing the proposal of Department of Space to put a satellite in an orbit around Mars to study the Red Planet. India has also started developing critical technologies for its human spaceflight mission.

The country’s prestigious PSLV and GSLV vehicles have successfully launched numerous satellites and are constantly conducted a variety of operations for both Indian and foreign clients.

India as a Nuclear Power

India possesses nuclear weapons and has successfully tested it in the past. The country has nuclear-capable aircraft, surface ships, and submarines under development. With the completion of the INS Arihant, the nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines, India will be one of six countries in the world with the ability to design, build, and operate its own nuclear submarines. The submarine is now under sea trials.

Nuclear power is also the fourth largest source of electricity in India. India has 20 nuclear reactors in operation in 6 nuclear power plants. India stands 9^th in the world in terms of number of operational power reactors. The nuclear power industry in India is expected to undergo a significant expansion in the coming years.

India In Telecommunication

India has the third largest telecommunication network in the world on the basis of its customer base. Telecommunication in India is assisted by the INSAT system of the country, one of the largest domestic satellite systems in the world The hyper-competition in the market has enabled Indians to enjoy one of the lowest tariffs in the world. Major sectors of the Indian telecommunication industry are telephony, internet and broadcasting.

From a country which was entangled in a wired network of land lines and trunk calls, India has grown to a country which has second largest mobile phone consumer base in the world with about 930 million. The country also has world’s third largest internet user data base.

Telecommunication has supported the socioeconomic development of India and has played a significant role to narrow down the rural-urban digital divide. India is also one among a few countries which boast of a transparent governance with the initiatives such as E-governance. The mediums such as Television and radio have huge impact on the views of Indian people.

Computers and IT

The world recognizes India as an IT giant today. Many companies such as Infosys, TCS and Wipro had made India an inseparable part of this ecosystem. The country is also a hot hub of outsourcing with its talents on demand from worldwide.

Almost every urban home in India has a computer now.  From dial-ups, we have now got broadband virtually everywhere. Also the availability of 3G and even 4G USB modems requiring no wired network infrastructure has made the access easier. Penetration of internet connectivity in rural areas has directly and indirectly affected the lives of people in the villages. Many of the Indian government organizations have proper websites and even mobile apps now like one released by IRCTC. Some initiatives are allowing big business companies to link directly with rural farmers via internet, thus bridging the gap and eliminating middlemen.

Above all these, India is growing as an education superpower. Thousands of talents are graduating from the country’s prestigious institutions including the IITs. So let’s hope the country is yet to see a its fast progress in the coming years.