Maharashtra Board Class 9 History Chapter 7 Science and Technology PDF Download

Science and Technology

In this chapter, we shall study India's achievements in the areas of science and technology. Also, we are going to learn about the important institutions in the areas of science and technology and their contribution.

Indian Atomic Energy Commission

India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to nurture a scientific temper and bring about the nation's progress. From this perspective, he set up the Indian Atomic Energy Commission on 10th August 1948. Dr Homi Bhabha was appointed as the first Chairman of the Commission. The objectives of the commission were to produce electricity from atomic energy, increase the yield of food grains and make them last longer, set up the technology for achieving this and develop nanotechnology.

In 1956, the Department of Atomic Energy set up 'Apsara', a nuclear reactor functioning on atomic energy.

In 1969, an atomic power station was set up at Tarapur. A Reactor Research Centre was set up at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu to successfully use Thorium for generating atomic power. The role of reactors is important in developing atomic power.

Factories manufacturing the heavy water needed for the generation of atomic power were set up at Vadodara, Talcher, Tutikorin, Kota, etc. An institution called Heavy Water Projects was set up to carry out research on manufacturing heavy water within the country. It was later renamed 'Heavy Water Board'.

Teacher's Note

Pandit Nehru wanted India to be a scientific nation. Just like your school has a science lab to do experiments, India built atomic centres to do big experiments.

Exam Trick

Remember: Atomic Energy Commission = started 1948 by Nehru. Dr Homi Bhabha = first chairman. These are facts you must know for your exam.

Points to Remember

Pandit Nehru started the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948.
Dr Homi Bhabha was the first Chairman.
Apsara was the first nuclear reactor in 1956.
Heavy water factories were set up at many places.
Atomic power was used to make electricity and food grains better.

Dhruva Nuclear Reactor

In 1985, a completely Indian made nuclear reactor called Dhruva was started at Trombay near Mumbai. The Dhruva nuclear reactor uses uranium as fuel. At this center, 350 radioactive substances are produced. They are used in industry, agriculture and medicine.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)

This Company was set up in 1987 to generate electricity from atomic energy. The objective of the company is to master and develop the technology to generate safe, cheap and environmentally profitable power and make the country self-sufficient.

Teacher's Note

Dhruva reactor is like a big power plant that makes electricity. Just like your home uses electricity from power stations, India made its own power station called Dhruva.

Exam Trick

Remember: Dhruva = 1985, made in India. NPCIL = 1987, makes electricity. Two different things in different years.

Points to Remember

Dhruva nuclear reactor started in 1985 at Trombay near Mumbai.
It uses uranium as fuel.
350 radioactive substances are made there.
NPCIL was set up in 1987 to make electricity.
Both help make India self-sufficient in power.

Nuclear Tests

First Nuclear Test at Pokharan

India successfully performed her first nuclear test at Pokharan in Rajasthan on 18th May 1974 in consonance with the policy of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and for self-sufficiency. The reason why India took this decision was China's nuclear capability and Pakistan's desperate efforts to acquire nuclear weapons with China's help.

Dr Homi Sethna, the chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission and Dr Raja Ramanna, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre played a major role in conducting this nuclear test. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took the decision of carrying out a 'nuclear explosion'. Pokharan was chosen on the basis of the required criteria for the location of the nuclear tests: far away from human settlement and no ground water reserves.

Teacher's Note

In 1974, India did a nuclear test to show it was strong. This was like a student proving they are good at studies by passing a hard exam.

Exam Trick

Remember: Pokharan 1974 = first nuclear test. Indira Gandhi = Prime Minister at that time. Dr Homi Sethna and Dr Raja Ramanna = leaders. These names and dates come in exams.

Points to Remember

First nuclear test was done at Pokharan in Rajasthan on 18th May 1974.
Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.
Dr Homi Sethna and Dr Raja Ramanna led the test.
Pokharan was chosen because no people lived there.
India did this to show it was strong and self-sufficient.

Second Nuclear Test

On 11th May 1998, India carried out its second nuclear test to prove its nuclear preparedness. Three tests were done on this day. One of them was of the Hydrogen Bomb. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee assured that there would be no first use of nuclear weapons by India. But the USA imposed economic sanctions on India immediately.

Teacher's Note

In 1998, India again tested nuclear bombs to show it was ready for defence. This is like India showing the world that it can protect itself.

Exam Trick

Remember: Second nuclear test = 11th May 1998. Atal Bihari Vajpayee = Prime Minister. USA = gave sanctions. These are key facts.

Points to Remember

Second nuclear test happened on 11th May 1998.
Three tests were done on the same day.
One test was of the Hydrogen Bomb.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.
USA gave sanctions after this, but India said no first use of weapons.

Missile Development

In 1958, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was established under the Department of Defence of the government of India. The objective of this organisation was to make India self-sufficient with respect to means, equipment and weapons required for defence. After 1983, this organisation developed several missiles under the leadership of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Dr Kalam has made a great contribution in the production of missiles. Dr Kalam is known as the father of India's missile programme. He is also referred to as the 'Missile Man' of India.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was conceived by and carried out under the leadership of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Defence Research and Development organisation (DRDO) undertook the task of building the missiles.

Prithvi

In 1988, India successfully tested the missile Prithvi and in 1989, the missile Agni. The entire world took note of India's programme of developing nuclear missiles indigenously.

Prithvi-1, a surface to surface ballistic missile was given to the Army, Prithvi-2 was given to the Air Force while Prithvi-3 was given to the Navy. Prithvi had the capacity to carry nuclear weapons of 500-1000 kg. Prithvi could travel a distance of 150-300 km due to the nuclear ballistic missile.

Agni

In order that China and Pakistan get an idea of India's missile strength and India's borders remain secure, Agni-1 was tested. This military missile had a range of 700 km. Later Agni-2 and Agni-3 were also produced.

Akash and Nag Missiles

In 1990, the missile Akash was developed to fire from land into air. This missile has a capacity to carry 720 kilogram explosives at supersonic speed and a range of 30 kilometres. The missile Nag was made in order to destroy the tanks of the enemy. It is of the 'fire and forget' type. India has militarily become secure due to the production of missiles.

Teacher's Note

Dr Abdul Kalam made missiles for India like weapons that can protect the country. Think of him as India's scientist hero who made India strong.

Exam Trick

Remember: Prithvi = 1988, ground missile. Agni = 1989, longer range. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam = Missile Man. DRDO = builds missiles. These facts always come in exams.

Points to Remember

DRDO was set up in 1958 for defence.
Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam led the missile programme from 1983.
Prithvi was tested in 1988 and can carry nuclear weapons.
Agni was tested in 1989 and has a range of 700 km.
Akash and Nag missiles were made to protect India from air and ground attacks.

Space Research

In 1961, Indian National Committee for Space Research (NCSR) launched India's first research rocket from Thumba Equatorial Launch Center in Thumba in the State of Kerala.

In 1969, our indigenously built rocket Rohini-75 was successfully launched. The next stage was the successful launch of the first Indian satellite Aryabhatta in 1975 with help from the Soviet Union. This success proved that Indian scientists can indigenously build and launch a satellite. Indian scientists were confident that they could acquire the technology for sending a message from the Earth Station and to assess the working of the satellite.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

After the success of the basic programme in space research and rocket-related project, Indian Space Research Organisation was established on 15th August 1969 in order to carry out further space research. The headquarters of ISRO are at Bengaluru. ISRO activated the space station at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh for launching our satellites in space.

Bhaskar-1

India launched remote sensing experimental satellite Bhaskar-1 from the Soviet Union in 1979 in order to observe various things on the surface of the earth by remote sensing technology. This remote sensing technology would be useful for India's development by regarding water bodies, mineral deposits and forecasting weather. The photographs taken with the help of this technology about the bowels of the earth, environment and forests were important. Another area in which the information from this satellite was useful was oceanography. In 1981, 'Bhaskar-2' was launched from Soviet Union.

APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment)

The first completely indigenously built satellite by ISRO in India, APPLE was launched on 19th June 1981 from the French Guiana. 'APPLE' was beneficial in the field of education. The objective of providing emergency telecommunication services was successful.

Indian National Satellite (INSAT)

In August 1983, the satellite INSAT 1-B was launched in space. Because of this satellite, a major revolution came about in the areas of telecommunication, television, radio, weather forecasting and space research in India. Due to INSAT, 207 Akashwani or Radio stations could be connected to each other. This mechanism was also useful for search and rescue of people caught in some disaster like a shipwreck or an air plane crash, for forecasting weather, to look for and follow cyclones or storms, in the fields of telemedicine and educational institutions. The telemedicine service enabled the population from remote areas to get advice and treatment from expert doctors. Public Primary Health Centers in villages have been connected with superspecialty hospitals through INSAT.

Teacher's Note

India made satellites like Aryabhatta, APPLE and INSAT to talk to people far away and see weather from space. Think of satellites as India's eyes in the sky.

Exam Trick

Remember: Aryabhatta = 1975 first satellite. Bhaskar = 1979, sees earth. APPLE = 1981, made in India. INSAT = 1983, many uses. Each satellite has a different year and use.

Points to Remember

First research rocket was launched in 1961 from Thumba in Kerala.
Aryabhatta was India's first satellite launched in 1975.
ISRO was set up on 15th August 1969 and headquarter at Bengaluru.
Satellites like Bhaskar, APPLE and INSAT helped in weather, education and communication.
Satellites also helped in telemedicine to give doctors' advice to villages.

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