Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Why is in news? President of India paid homage to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was born on15 October 1931in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. His birthday is celebrated asNational Innovation Day.

He is one of the most respected scientists in India with the unique honour of receivingaccredited doctoral degrees from 48 Universities and institutions from India and abroad.

He was sworn in asIndia's 11th President in 2002and completed his term in 2007.

He planned to produce a number of successful missiles, which helped him earn thenickname "Missile Man".

He was apioneer in fiberglass technologyand led a small team to launch this effort in ISRO from construction, in a development thatled to the production of computerized rocket motor cases.

He was instrumental asProject Directorto develop India's first native satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3)which successfully injected theRohini satelliteintoNear-Earth Orbit in July 1980and made India a special member of the Space Club.

He wasresponsible for the emergence of the ISRO launch vehicle program, particularly thePSLV configuration.

After working for 20 years at ISRO and having the expertise tointroduce automotive technology, he has taken on theresponsibility of developing the Indigenous Guide.

He has been theChief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Program(IGMDP).

It has led to theuse of missile strategic weapons and the testing of Pokhran-IIin collaboration with the Atomic Energy Department,making India a World Nuclear Weapon.

In 1998, he launched a national program calledTechnology Vision 2020, which he described as a road map to transform India from a less developed society to a more developed society in 20 years.

The plan required that, among other things, increase agricultural productivity, emphasize technology as a means to grow the economy, and increase access to health and education.

He was interested in bringing prosperity to rural areas throughPURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas),where science and technology should play a major role.

He has been awarded the most prestigious awards -Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest public award Bharat Ratna (1997).