Every year on September 15th, India celebrates National Engineer’s Day to honor the birth anniversary of one of its greatest engineers, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. A visionary civil engineer and statesman, Visvesvaraya’s contributions laid the foundation for modern engineering practices in India. This year, we celebrate the theme “Engineering for a Sustainable Future,” recognizing the crucial role engineers play in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges—climate change, environmental degradation, resource depletion, energy security, healthcare, and social justice.

The alignment of sustainability and technology strategies is becoming ever more critical as businesses set ambitious Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. Technology leaders play a vital role in supporting their company’s transformation into sustainable organisations. In this regard Riya Adlakha, Assistant Editor, ObserveNow Media engaged with technology leaders to gain deeper insights into the subject.

On this special day, we honor the visionary minds whose ingenuity and problem-solving skills lay the foundation for a better future. Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer at Acer India highlighted while interacting with ObserveNow Media, that “Engineers are the driving force behind technological advancements that not only push industries forward but also enhance everyday life. At Acer, we deeply value their role in harnessing emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and green energy solutions to build smarter, more sustainable systems. Their commitment to innovation empowers us to achieve more, making the world more connected, efficient, and future-ready.”

An effective sustainable technology strategy helps drive business growth and ESG performance by focusing on three key imperatives:

Driving Net-Zero Ambitions through Advanced Technologies:

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 is a target set by 92% of companies globally. Engineers are essential in deploying advanced technologies to measure, reduce, and remove carbon footprints. From green software practices to optimizing energy usage in AI/ML models, engineers are exploring innovative ways to minimize emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. Dr. Shakti Goel, Chief Architect & Data Scientist, Yatra  emphasized while talking to ObserveNow “That artificial intelligence will ensure a greener future by innovating engineering solutions is an incontrovertible fact. IoT and drone technologies, along with vision analytics, will make agriculture and renewable energy industries more sustainable. AI combined with Quantum Computing, conceivable in a not-so-distant future, will result in the discovery of new drugs and the defeat of recalcitrant diseases.”

Promoting Green Digital Practices:

In today’s digital age, technology is deeply embedded in every aspect of our lives, providing immense benefits in terms of speed, convenience, and connectivity. However, the rising demand for digital services has also led to an increase in energy consumption and carbon emissions. Engineers are now focusing on adopting green digital practices, such as optimizing software performance, utilizing dark mode to reduce UI carbon emissions by 60%, and leveraging transfer learning in AI models to reduce carbon footprints by 80%. These innovations not only lower energy consumption but also contribute to creating a more sustainable digital ecosystem.

While interacting exclusively with ObserveNow Media, Sumanta Bhattacharya, Chief Data & Analytics Officer from UNO Digital Bank highlighted the role of AI and data analytics in driving sustainable development, stating, “The impact of AI, data analytics, and smart engineering on the environment has the potential to make a significant mark by contributing around 5 trillion-plus USD to the global economy by 2030 and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 4% by 2025. Climate modeling and prediction, precision agriculture leveraging sensors to maximize crops, reducing carbon emissions, and disaster preparedness with early warning systems are a few key areas where engineering and AI-driven innovation is contributing to sustainable development.”

Enhancing Cloud and Data Efficiency:

Cloud computing and data management play a pivotal role in modern enterprises. Engineers are exploring ways to encourage data center-to-cloud migrations, make informed hosting decisions, and develop green applications on the cloud. They are also evaluating edge computing—a low-energy technology that stores and processes data closer to the end user, reducing transmission energy. Efficient data processing, eliminating storage waste, compressing data, and optimizing network utilization are some of the key strategies to reduce emissions associated with “dark data,” which accounts for 70%-90% of all data stored. By migrating cloud locations, organizations can significantly reduce emissions; for instance, a project that moves from GCP’s asia-east-1 to europe-north-1 can save up to 66% of emissions.

Srinivas Shekar, CEO and Co-Founder of Pantherun Technologies shared his throught with ObserveNow Media aptly described this transformation: “Engineers are often regarded as the backbone of innovation, and in today’s world, their significance is beyond measure. Their relentless drive to push boundaries has shaped the way we live, work, and connect. With the rise of AI and machine learning, we are witnessing a transformation in engineering practices across India and globally. These technologies are revolutionizing industries—from predictive maintenance in manufacturing that reduces downtime, to smart infrastructure that enhances urban living to advanced cybersecurity measures that protect valuable data.”

Exclusively interacting with ObserveNow Media, Pawan Bhageria, President – Education at Tata Technologies, notes, “Engineers are the driving force behind next-gen technologies, including Gen AI, SDV, and the Industry 4.0 revolution, delivering innovation and sustainability that is reshaping industries. India’s engineering talent is leading this transformation, turning challenges into opportunities and setting new global benchmarks.”

Sustainable engineering is not limited to software and digital solutions. Engineers are leading the charge in creating energy-efficient hardware, green infrastructure, and circular economy practices that minimize environmental impacts. Only about 17% of e-waste is currently recycled, and most organizations recycle less than 10% of their hardware. To address this, engineers are driving innovations in recycling processes, encouraging responsible procurement, and developing end-of-life management strategies for IT infrastructure.

“This new way of working means engineers are taking on a bigger role in leading tech. They are not just using AI—they are driving the collaboration between humans and machines to new levels. Whether building smarter cities, improving healthcare, or transforming manufacturing, engineers are use AI to boost every part of their work. With this power comes responsibility. Engineers must make sure AI is used ethically, ensuring fairness and transparency. They are building systems we can trust, working with both AI and society to create a future where human and machine potential work together” highlighted Munjay Singh, COO at Tredence while talking to ObserveNow Media. 

“Integrating IoT, AI, and data analytics with sustainable engineering practices is key to enhancing the development of eco-friendly environments. IoT sensors play a crucial role in collecting data on resource use, while AI steps in to optimize efficiency and reduce waste based on this valuable information. Data analytics further refines decision-making processes, ultimately leading to better resource management and reduced environmental impact. This approach fosters the creation of adaptive systems that not only improve operational efficiency but also promote sustainability and resilience in infrastructure. It drives a more intelligent approach to environmental stewardship, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future”, highlighted Krishnamurthy Rajesh,
Global Director & Head – Information Technology , GreyOrange while interacting with ObserveNow

As engineers, our commitment to digital inclusion is unwavering. As Sameer Goyal, Head of Engineering at Acuity Knowledge Partners on engineers day in conversation with ObserveNow Media highlighted “Through various efforts and initiatives, we are helping bridge the digital divide, ensuring that rural and underserved communities have access to vital digital resources and services. This effort is crucial in empowering every citizen and fostering inclusive growth.”

While interacting with ObserveNow Media Srinivasulu Grandhi, Vice President of Engineering and Site Leader at Confluent, further emphasizes the evolving role of engineers: “Engineers are no longer tasked with building static solutions – they’re developing dynamic, responsive systems that adapt and evolve in real time. This new way of working means engineers are taking on a bigger role in leading tech. They are not just using AI—they are driving the collaboration between humans and machines to new levels. Whether building smarter cities, improving healthcare, or transforming manufacturing, engineers use AI to boost every part of their work.”

Nitin Dhingra, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) & Strategy CVC (Startup investments), Hindware Limited while interacting with ObserveNow emphaiszed that, “The application of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and data analytics alongside sustainable engineering practices is leading to a transformation in the manufacturing sector. Engineers can leverage these advanced tools to create innovative solutions that enhance production efficiency, greatly minimize waste, and reduce environmental impact significantly. This collaboration is crucial for establishing sustainable manufacturing environments that promote a more environmentally friendly future for future generations, ensuring that our industrial processes are both financially feasible and environmentally conscientious. Through the integration of these technologies, we can make impressive progress in sustainability and operational excellence.”

On this National Engineer’s Day, we celebrate the engineers who are pioneering solutions for a greener, more sustainable future. Their dedication to harnessing technology to address climate change, ensure energy security, promote social justice, and build resilient communities is invaluable. As we move forward, let us remember that sustainability is the new digital, and the future of engineering lies in our ability to innovate responsibly and create lasting positive impacts on our planet.