[en] India has a comprehensive nuclear power programme with great emphasis on indigenization and self-reliance. In the field of control and instrumentation systems, the challenges faced by a developing country are best met by development of technology and transfer of technology for production and utilization in a reactor. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd have both been playing crucial roles as R and D organizations, generating the technology and as a production organization respectively. The various problems faced are illustrated by the example of development of fuel handling control systems for one of the power reactors under construction. The lessons learned are being utilized for spreading technology transfer to the industrial sector, outside the Department of Atomic Energy, to generate greater participation of industry in the Indian nuclear power programme. (author)