Key Points
- Industry leaders urged India to strengthen data governance and treat data as national infrastructure.
- Aviation experts called for domestic regional aircraft manufacturing, design ownership and resilient supply chains.
- Cybersecurity leaders sought indigenous AI security tools, vulnerability disclosures and safeguards against exploit generation.
Industry leaders marking National Technology Day 2026 called for stronger data governance frameworks, indigenous aircraft manufacturing and homegrown cybersecurity solutions as India seeks to move from digital adoption to technology leadership.
National Technology Day, observed on 11 May each year, commemorates India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and celebrates the country’s scientific and technological achievements. This year’s observances saw technology executives outline priorities ranging from unified data platforms to regional aviation and AI-driven security tools.
Data as national infrastructure
Sanjay Agrawal, head of presales and chief technology officer at Hitachi Vantara India and SAARC, said data must be treated as critical national infrastructure. He argued that enterprises and government bodies must shift from fragmented systems to unified platforms capable of processing information in real time.
“AI is no longer experimental but embedded into core processes, delivering tangible economic outcomes,” Agrawal said. He pointed to the convergence of information technology and operational technology — the integration of computing systems with industrial equipment — as a driver of efficiency across manufacturing, energy and mobility sectors.
Agrawal said India’s growth trajectory would depend on governing this data ecosystem with trust, sustainability and inclusivity at its core.
Subhakar Pappula, founder and CEO of Flamingo Aerospace, said civil aviation represents a strategic opportunity for indigenous manufacturing. India has operationalised over 500 regional routes under the UDAN scheme, connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with air services.
“With India on track to become the world’s third largest aviation market, the requirement for 60 to 80 seat regional aircraft is expected to rise sharply over the next decade,” Pappula said.
He called for a domestic manufacturing ecosystem covering airframes — the structural body of aircraft — avionics integration, interiors and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. Pappula noted that 2026 had seen more structured technology transfer arrangements between global original equipment manufacturers and Indian industry.
“The focus must now move towards design ownership, digital engineering and supply chain resilience to ensure that value creation remains within India,” he said.
Indigenous cybersecurity tools
Govind Rammurthy, CEO and managing director, eScan, stressed on the dual nature of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. He cited AI tools that discovered 271 vulnerabilities in the Firefox browser as an example of technology that could strengthen defences or enable attacks depending on who controls it.
Rammurthy called for mandatory disclosure timelines requiring AI researchers to share vulnerability findings with software developers before publication. He also advocated for guardrails preventing large language models from generating functional exploit code.
“India needs indigenous AI-powered security addressing actual Indian threats — regulatory compliance and protection for small businesses and government agencies equally, not just enterprises,” Rammurthy said.
Your Questions, Answered
What is National Technology Day and when is it observed?
National Technology Day is observed on 11 May each year in India. It commemorates the country's 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and celebrates India's scientific and technological achievements.
What is the UDAN scheme mentioned in the article?
UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme that has operationalised over 500 routes connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with air services, making aviation accessible beyond major metropolitan areas.
Why are industry leaders calling for indigenous aircraft manufacturing?
With India projected to become the world's third largest aviation market, demand for 60 to 80 seat regional aircraft is expected to rise sharply. Domestic manufacturing would reduce import dependence and retain value creation within India.
What cybersecurity concerns were raised on National Technology Day 2026?
eScan's CEO highlighted AI's dual nature in security, noting tools that found 271 Firefox vulnerabilities could strengthen defences or enable attacks. He called for mandatory disclosure timelines and guardrails on AI-generated exploit code.
