58^thENGINEERS' DAY

September 15 is celebrated every year in the country since the year 1967 as "Engineers' Day" to commemorate the birthday of the legendary engineer Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Sir Visvesvaraya, an eminent Indian engineer and statesman was born in a remote village of Karnataka, the State that is incidentally now the Hi-tech State of the country.

Due to his outstanding contribution to the society, Government of India conferred "Bharat Ratna" on this legend in the year 1955. He was also called the precursor of economic planning in India. His learned discourse on Economic Planning in India, Planned Economy for India and Reconstructing India, was the first available document on the planning effort of the country and it is still held as the parent source matter for economic planners. A theme of national importance is chosen every year by the Council of the Institution and celebrated at its various State/Local Centres to educate the engineering fraternity in general and the society in particular. This year the 58th Engineers' Day will be celebrated all over the country on the theme "Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence: Driving India's Techade."

On 15th September 2025, The Institution of Engineers (India) (IEI) celebrates Engineers' Day across all State and Local Centres paying tribute to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose vision laid the foundation for engineering excellence in India. The theme, "Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence: Driving India's Techade," underscores the crucial role of engineers in steering AI, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors, Robotics, and Advanced Materials toward national growth and global competitiveness.

As India enters its Techade, deep tech innovations are reshaping industries and redefining progress. Unlike conventional IT solutions, these technologies demand long-term R&D, scientific rigor, and advanced engineering expertise. Recognizing this, the Government of India introduced the National Deep Tech Start-up Policy (NDTSP) in 2024 to support startups and researchers working on transformative technologies. But fostering deep tech is not just about policies—it requires a robust ecosystem where research translates into industrial applications, and engineers play a defining role in this shift.

IEI, with its rich legacy of advancing engineering research and innovation, has long been a catalyst in this transformation. Through its R&D Grant-in-Aid Scheme, IEI has supported breakthrough ideas even at the undergraduate level, enabling young engineers to experiment, innovate, and create impactful solutions. This commitment to engineering-led progress has earned IEI recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. By fostering research, bridging academia with industry, and nurturing talent, IEI has positioned itself as a key enabler of India's deep tech journey.

As we mark Engineers' Day 2025, it is evident that deep tech is no longer an emerging field—it is the present and the future. The challenge ahead is immense, but so is the opportunity. With vision, expertise, and unwavering commitment, engineers must innovate, lead, and build technologies that will drive India's transformation into a global powerhouse. And as always, IEI stands ready to support this mission, ensuring that India's engineering community continues to push the boundaries of possibility.