INDIAN ENGINEERS ARE READY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY TOWARDS DEVELOPED INDIA 2047
New Delhi, Sep 15, 2025 : India celebrates National Engineers Day 2025 today. Engineers are not just the torchbearers of the country's technological progress, but also the architects of its future. From infrastructure advancements to deep tech, their contributions are shaping India's tech ed. Supported by sustained government initiatives and a vibrant ecosystem of research and innovation, India's engineers are poised to lead the country towards a developed India 2047, ensuring inclusive, sustainable, and transformative progress.
National Engineer's Day is celebrated every year on September 15 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of the greatest engineers of the country. Known for his pioneering contributions to engineering, he transformed the country's infrastructure through innovative designs, visionary plans and practical solutions that combined technical excellence and social impact. Apart from his works as an economist, statesman and author, his extraordinary achievements as an engineer continue to inspire generations and set a benchmark for problem-solving, innovation and nation-building.
The life and legacy of Sir M. Visvesvaraya:
From a humble background, Sir M. Visvesvaraya rose to serve as the Dewan of Mysore and President of the All India Producers' Association. Awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955, his visionary ideas continue to guide economic planners even today. His life remains an everlasting inspiration, establishing him as a colossus in India's history.
Notable contributions of Sir M. Visvesvaraya:
Innovative flood management systems-After the Musi River flood of 1908, Sir M. Visvesvaraya designed reservoirs such as Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar and proposed systematic flood control solutions. He also implemented measures to protect the Visakhapatnam port from sea erosion, thereby enhancing urban resilience. Even today, his reservoir-based flood management principles guide modern water and disaster management projects.
Pioneer in dam construction and irrigation- As chief engineer of Mysore, Sir M. Visvesvaraya built the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in 1932, creating Asia's largest reservoir and revolutionizing Mandya's agriculture. His automatic floodgates improved water control in many dams and led to irrigation and hydroelectric projects. These innovations continue to influence modern dam design and water management.
Influential literary works- Sir M. Visvesvaraya's works had a profound impact on India's development. "Planned Economy for India" promoted industrialization and infrastructure, "Reconstructing India" emphasized education and governance, and "Memoirs of My Working Life" chronicled his engineering achievements. These works continue to guide modern economic and engineering strategies.
Role of Engineers in Nation Building:
Engineers are the driving force of India's transformation, shaping the country's critical infrastructure and leading knowledge-based innovation. From building critical dams, roads and buildings to driving digital transformation, they play a vital role in building a modern nation.
Infrastructure Development:
As the architects of modern India, engineers design and build critical infrastructure, including highways, expressways, metro rail networks, bridges, ports and power generation systems. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways emphasises that projects such as Bharatmala Pariyojana, Sagarmala, PM Gati Shakti and Smart Cities Mission are transforming connectivity and logistics, and engineers are driving their implementation and innovation.
Strategic Sector:
India's progress in defence manufacturing, nuclear energy and space exploration is driven by engineering excellence. Engineers of the Department of Space are playing a leading role in launch vehicle health monitoring, satellite data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics for interplanetary missions, while engineers of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are developing technologies that strengthen India's strategic capabilities.
Digital Transformation:
Under the Digital India initiative, engineers have developed platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker. By leveraging software engineering, cybersecurity, and data analytics, they have established India as a global leader in digital infrastructure and deep-tech innovation.
Government initiatives promoting engineering excellence and innovation:
The Government of India is dedicated to promoting engineering excellence, research and innovation through a strong ecosystem that nurtures talent and drives transformational growth.
Skill India Digital Hub:
Skill India Digital Hub, a Government initiative, seeks to equip engineers with practical, industry-ready skills to prepare them for the challenges of the rapidly evolving technological landscape as India moves towards Developed India 2047.
Atal Innovation Mission:
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) aims to foster a strong startup ecosystem for students and engineers by encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship across India through initiatives such as Atal Incubation Centers (AICs). As of 18 December 2024, 3,556 startups have been incubated in 72 AICs, creating 41,965 jobs.
Innovations in Science for Inspired Research (INSPIRE):
The INSPIRE scheme plays a vital role in motivating youth to pursue research in cutting-edge science and technology. For engineers, it provides avenues for cutting-edge R&D in applied sciences, clean energy, semiconductors, space technology and healthcare innovations, creating a strong pipeline of future engineers.
Startup india:
The Startup India initiative aims to promote innovation and accelerate the growth of startups across the country. For engineers, it offers opportunities to transform tech ideas into scalable ventures in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean energy, space technology and digital platforms. The impact of this initiative is evident in the number of startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) growing from around 500 in 2016 to 1,59,157 as of January 15, 2025.
Merit Scheme:
Under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020), the government has allocated ?4,200 crore (for the period 2025-26 to 2029-30) for the Merit scheme to transform technical education and link it with skill development and innovation. The scheme will be implemented in 275 technical institutions, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics. For engineers, Merit provides modern laboratories, updated curriculum and multidisciplinary education, preparing them to innovate in areas such as clean energy, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, while also strengthening India's technological leadership.
Premier institutions promoting engineering excellence:
The Government has strengthened the engineering ecosystem through premier institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), creating a strong base for education and research.
Intensive technological innovation:
The National Interdisciplinary Mission on Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, is a flagship Government initiative to promote research, development and innovation in deep technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber Security and FinTech. With 25 Technology Innovation Hubs established in premier institutions, the Mission provides advanced skills to engineers, promotes entrepreneurship and drives commercialization of technologies. The Mission has achieved significant milestones including commercialization of 389 technologies/products, generation of over 2,700 publications and intellectual property outputs, strengthening India’s ecosystem for cutting-edge, indigenous deep-tech innovation.
Green technology innovation:
India is making rapid strides in renewable energy and green technologies, providing engineers with opportunities to drive innovation. Under initiatives such as PM Surya Griha, PM-KUSUM, Solar Parks and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, engineers are designing and implementing solar rooftop systems, large-scale solar parks, bioenergy and green hydrogen projects. India now ranks third globally in solar capacity and fourth in wind power capacity, with 50 per cent of total installed power coming from renewable energy.
India's engineering leadership and global influence:
Notably, India's engineering prowess has gained global recognition, driving technological leadership in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor design and quantum computing. India's steadily rising progress is reflected in the Global Innovation Index, drawing attention to its dynamic and progressive engineering ecosystem.