National Science Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance, and Celebration & More

National Science Day 2024: It is observed on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of the  'Raman Effect'. In 1986, the Government of India designated February 28 as National Science Day (NSD). On this day, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, also known as CV Raman, announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.

Greetings on National Science Day. Our Government is continuously working to encourage research and innovation among the youth. This is important to realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat. pic.twitter.com/48jmnnDc4j

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 28, 2024

Greetings to our scientific community on #NationalScienceDay.

It is an occasion to celebrate the stupendous achievements of our scientists which are so foundational to the growth and prosperity of our nation. This day also reminds us of the role played by our researchers in…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 28, 2024

#NationalScienceDay greetings to all our innovators, scientists and tech-enthusiasts.

Solution-centric indigenous innovation and frontier technologies holds the key to realising the goal of Viksit Bharat. NEP 2020 is cultivating a research and innovation mindset and also… pic.twitter.com/kyKNZoEYYv

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 28, 2024

Scientific development has changed the lives of human beings in many ways. Science has made lives better and easier for human beings. Robots, computers, mobile devices, etc. have been invented with the help of science alone. Therefore, science holds great importance in our lives. India has also contributed a lot to the field of science. Many great scientists were born in India, recognized India in the field of science, and made India a separate place too. 

In 1928, an Indian scientist, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman discovered a phenomenon known as the Raman Effect. For his remarkable discovery in 1930, he was awarded the Nobel Prize, which was the first Nobel Prize in India in the field of science. To mark this discovery, every year National Science Day is celebrated. 

National Science Day 2024: Theme

The theme for National Science Day 2024 is 'Indigenous Technologies For Viksit Bharat'. 

The theme for National Science Day 2023 is 'Global Science for Global Wellbeing'.

The theme of National Science Day 2022 is "Integrated Approach in S&T for Sustainable Future".

The theme of National Science Day 2020 is “Women in Science.”

The theme of National Science Day 2019 is "Science for the People and the People for Science."

The theme of National Science Day 2018 is "Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future."

The Theme of National Science Day 2017 is "Science and Technology for Specially Abled Persons."

The theme of National Science Day 2016 is "Make in India: S&T-driven innovations."

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When this day is declared as National Science Day?

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was a Tamil Brahman who worked from 1907 to 1933 at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal. Here, he had researched various topics of physics, of which one is the Raman Effect, which marked the greatest discovery in the field of science in Indian history.
In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) asked the Government of India to designate February 28 as National Science Day. The government had accepted it and declared February 28 as National Science Day in 1986. The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 1987.

What is Raman Effect?

 
Source: www.aboutforensics.co.uk.com
It is a phenomenon in which a change in the wavelength of light occurs when a beam of light is deflected by molecules. When a beam of light travels from a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical compound, then a small fraction of the light emerges in a direction other than that of the incident light. Most of the scattered light wavelength is unchanged, and in small part, if the wavelength is different from that of incident light, it is due to the Raman Effect.

Awards that were won by CV Raman are: Fellow of the Royal Society (1924), Knight Bachelor (1929), Nobel Prize in Physics (1930), Bharat Ratna (1954), Lenin Peace Prize (1957), and Fellow of the Royal Society (1924).

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How is National Science Day celebrated?

The entire nation celebrates it as a science festival by organising workshops, exhibitions of science movies, an exhibition based on themes and concepts, live projects, debates, quiz competitions, seminars, etc. Its main aim is to provide scientific temper in the minds of people of all age groups. A large number of people gather together and attend National Science Day celebrations with great enthusiasm and participate in activities like quiz competitions, debates, projects, etc.

Major scale celebrations were held at the Indian Department of Science and Technology, the Giant Metre Wave Radio Telescope (GMRT), the Councils of Science and Technology in every state, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), and the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium.

National Science Day 2024: 9+ Women Who Made India Proud With Their Contributions

Objectives behind the National Science Day

•  To spread the message of the importance of science and its application in the daily lives of people, it is necessary to accelerate the pace of development.
• Invent and implement new technologies for the development of science.
• For human welfare, it is also necessary to understand and display efforts and achievements in the field of science.
• To provide an opportunity for people who want to develop their careers in the science field.
• To encourage people and popularise science and technology.
• Despite many significant achievements, certain sections of our society are still guided by blind faith and beliefs, which is reflected in the quality of decision-making on developmental issues that require change.

At last, let us find out some technologies that have transformed the lives of people who are specially abled.

• There was a person named Neil Harbisson who was born with the achromatopsia condition, in which he can only see black and white colours. Then, with the help of science, he created a camera that curls over the head like an antenna and converts colour inputs into some specific sounds that help people listen to colours. Isn’t it amazing?
• Liftware Company has created a magic tool for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. This machine uses hundreds of algorithms, helps people with this disease, and supports their food consumption. The hand of the patient is monitored by this machine.
• Have you ever heard about Para Technology, a Leicestershire-based firm that created a working prototype called Anagraphs? It uses software-controlled heat to expand paraffin waxes in its screen, turning the material from liquid to solid and controlling the main features of the prototype, which are raised.
• With all these examples, we come to know that Science not only provides a good career opportunity but also is very useful in our daily lives, which transforms our lives and also provides a new direction to think, invent new technology as seen above, etc.

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