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nching sounding rocket was established. The first launch was on November 21, 1963, which carried a 20 kg payload to a height of 200 km using an American made Nike-Apache rocket. Indian space program so far developed five launch vehicles and has presently three operational vehicles with payload capability up to 4000kg. The story of the development of SLV-3 is a fascinating one, which is linked to the inspiring story of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The multidisciplinary nature of the technology, technology denials, its strategic nature and dual use possibility made rocket technology a complex affair and to be mastered with hits and misses. The development of SLV-3 and ASLV were the learning grounds and the PSLV onwards became operational vehicles, as envisaged by Dr. Satish Dhawan in his famous Dhawan diagram. SLV-3 was successfully flown in 1980 and placed a 35 kg Rohini spacecraft in a low earth orbit. The development of ASLV was aimed at demonstration of the technologies needed for the launch vehicles in the operational phase. The PSLV programme which commenced during the ASLV period became the workhorse of ISRO and has recorded a series of successful missions with many evolutions to its credit. The development of GSLV enabled India to place operational communication satellites in GTO. Development of cryogenic technology was a landmark achievement which culminated in the realisation of fully indigenous C25 stage for GSLV Mk-III. Today India is one among the few nations which has the capability to design and realise any class of satellites and launch from its own soil. The remarkable missions of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan were achieved with PSLV and GSLV MkIII. This vyakhyaan will cover the evolution of launch vehicles, the key technologies mastered, present strengths in this domain, current developments and future programs keeping in view of the technological and industrial strength this nation has at present.