National Technology Day is observed in India every May 11, commemorating the series of five nuclear bomb test explosions known as Operation Shakti or Pokhran-II, which took place in 1998. This day marks a significant moment in India's technological advancement, as the country was one of the first in Asia to develop a nuclear program, beginning in 1944. The Pokhran Test Range in the Thar Desert was a key location for these tests, with the first nuclear weapon explosion occurring in 1974 under the codename Smiling Buddha. National Technology Day is celebrated by scientific and industrial organizations, as well as educational institutions across the country, highlighting achievements in science and industry that contribute to national development. The observance serves to recognize the importance of technological progress in India's growth.