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95th Birth Anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam 2026
95th Birth Anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam 2026
World Student’s Day 2026 observed on 15 October to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India.
What are the Key Facts of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam?
About:
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Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
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He planned programmes to produce a number of successful missiles, which helped earn him the nickname “Missile Man of India”.
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He was sworn in as India’s 11th President in 2002 and completed the full term in 2007.
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He was widely referred to as the "People's President".
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Some of his notable works include "Wings of Fire" (his autobiography), "Ignited Minds", and "My Journey".
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Dr. Kalam was the third scientist to hold the office of President, after Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Dr. Zakir Hussain.
Awards Received:
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He was awarded the coveted civilian awards — Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna (1997).
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Dr. Kalam, a renowned Indian scientist, holds honorary doctorates from 48 universities and institutions in India and internationally.
Literary Works:
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Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of India.
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India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium
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My Journey and Ignited Minds – Unleashing the Power Within India
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Indomitable Spirit
Death: 27th July 2015 at Shillong, Meghalaya.
Contributions:
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Pioneer in Fibreglass Technology: He was a pioneer in fibreglass technology and led a young team to initiate this effort in ISRO.
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Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3): As Project Director, he played a key role in developing India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), which successfully launched the Rohini satellite into orbit in July 1980, marking India's entry into the Space Club.
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Indigenous Guided Missiles: He was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
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He led the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy.
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APJ Abdul Kalam witnessed the country's first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, and later directed Project Devil and Project Valiant — efforts to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme.
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Technology Vision 2020: In 1998, he proposed Technology Vision 2020, a national plan aimed at transforming India from a developing to a developed nation within 20 years.
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Medical and Healthcare: APJ Abdul Kalam, in collaboration with cardiologist B. Soma Raju, developed the affordable ‘Kalam-Raju Stent’ for coronary heart disease, making healthcare more accessible.
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