Why in News

• Every year on 15th September, India celebrates National Engineers’ Day to mark the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a renowned engineer and former Diwan of Mysore.
• The 2026 theme — “Engineering Excellence for a Sustainable and Technologically Sovereign India” — highlights the role of engineers in building a self-reliant, sustainable and technology-driven India, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

About Sir M. Visvesvaraya

• Born 15 September 1861 at Muddenahalli, Karnataka — celebrated civil engineer and statesman.
• Served as Chief Engineer of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam; contributed to the flood protection system of Hyderabad and the development of irrigation systems.
• Diwan of Mysore (1912–1918) — promoted industries, education and infrastructure during his tenure.
• Awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955; Engineers’ Day has been observed in his honour every 15th September since 1968.

1. From Heritage to Modern Infrastructure

• From Indus Valley town planning to Visvesvaraya’s dams and today’s space and semiconductor missions, engineering has played a key role in India’s development — Visvesvaraya himself highlighted infrastructure, knowledge, institutions and skilled manpower as pillars of nation-building.

2. Building Technological Self-Reliance

• Technological sovereignty means developing and controlling critical technologies domestically — key areas include semiconductors and electronics, AI and data infrastructure, renewable energy and storage, space and satellite technology, and defence and advanced mobility.
• This supports Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to make India a technology creator rather than merely a consumer.

3. Engineering for Sustainable Development

• Engineers are crucial for balancing development with environmental protection through renewable energy and energy efficiency, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable water management, waste reduction and circular economy, and green/energy-efficient buildings — aligning with the SDGs and India’s climate commitments (NDCs).

4. Future-Ready Skills and Education

• Emerging fields — AI, robotics, data science, cybersecurity, biotechnology — are changing engineering education. India needs practical and research-based learning, industry-academia collaboration, interdisciplinary skills, and an innovation/entrepreneurship culture.

5. Policy, R&D and Innovation Ecosystem

• Technological self-reliance requires higher R&D investment, stronger innovation ecosystems, and better coordination among universities, research institutions and industry — supported by ongoing initiatives in semiconductors, space, renewable energy and Make in India.

• Education-industry gap: A significant gap exists between engineering education and industry requirements, leaving graduates without job-ready skills.
• High import dependence: Critical sectors — semiconductors, advanced electronics, strategic technologies — remain heavily import-dependent.
• Low R&D investment: India’s R&D spending as a share of GDP remains relatively low compared to developed economies, limiting innovation and indigenous research.
• Sustainability trade-off: Balancing rapid urbanisation and industrial growth with environmental sustainability and climate resilience remains difficult.
• Weak innovation culture: Engineering education needs a stronger innovation/entrepreneurship culture rather than a purely degree-focused approach.