Science and technology have occupied a very important place in India from very early times.
Excavations at Kalibangan and Lothal feature the scientific planning of towns and building using standard burnt bricks, interlinked drainage system, wheel - turned ceramics, solid wheel carts and the use of copper and bronze in various products. In the sixth century a lot of work was done in the field of medicine and surgery. Charak Samhita and Sushrita are the finest examples of this. Around the 50th century BC the first work of distillation of Zinc by man took place in Rajasthan. The lost wax process was developed in India .Indian mathematicians and astronomers have played an important role in the development of the fundamental concept of celestial science.
A great example of the mastery of Indians in the fields of mathematics, geometry and astronomy is the discovery of coins and concrete evidence of maritime trade. Indian mathematicians introduced the concept of zero. Mahaviracharya, the greatest Jain mathematician mentions the significance of zero. Brahmagupta is another famous Indian Mathematician who was the first one to solve the Pellian equation, Aryabhatta introduced the value of the mathematical constant, Pi. The Bakhsali manuscript, gives rules, examples and solutions to geometric, algebraic and arithmetical problems. Bhadrabahu was another Indian mathematician who solved the Pythagorean Theorem.
Amongst the modern scientists and mathematicians S.N. Bose is famous for Bose-Einstein statistics; Meghnad Saha, for Saha theory of thermal ionization, Ramanujam for Number Theory; Jayant Narlikar for his Theories of the evolution of the Universe, C.V. Raman for his "Raman Effect".
After attaining independence in the year 1947, India introduced a program of using modern science and technology for national development. At present, it spends about 0.83 percent of its GNP on scientific and technological development.
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