Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering a keynote address at the Global Conference on Space Exploration, reaffirmed India’s growing leadership in space technology and its commitment to global cooperation in peaceful space activities. The high-level international gathering brought together officials from national space agencies, private aerospace companies, and academic institutions from over 40 countries.
Speaking to a packed auditorium of global space leaders and innovators, PM Modi remarked, “India’s space programme is not just about launching rockets—each mission reflects the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians who believe in science, innovation, and progress.”
Key Highlights from PM Modi’s Address:
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India as a Global Space Partner: PM Modi emphasized India’s openness to collaborate on planetary defense, satellite data sharing, climate monitoring, and deep space missions. He invited other nations to partner with India’s space ecosystem, which now includes a robust private sector under the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
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Achievements of ISRO and Beyond: He commended ISRO’s recent accomplishments, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing, the Aditya-L1 solar mission, and the Gaganyaan crewed spaceflight preparations. These missions showcase India’s capabilities in cost-effective and reliable space solutions.
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Private Sector and Start-Up Ecosystem: The Prime Minister also pointed out the rapid emergence of Indian space tech startups, driven by recent policy reforms. Over 150 new space startups have emerged under India’s SpaceCom and SpaceRS policies, focusing on satellite manufacturing, launch vehicle development, and earth observation.
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Space for Societal Development: PM Modi reiterated that India’s space programme is people-centric. He highlighted how satellite data is being used for crop forecasting, disaster management, education in remote areas, telemedicine, and smart governance, making space technology a driver of inclusive development.
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Call for Responsible Space Conduct: Addressing global concerns over space debris and militarization, he called for an international code of conduct to ensure space remains a peaceful and sustainable domain for all humanity.
About the Conference
The Global Conference on Space Exploration 2025 is one of the largest gatherings of its kind, organized jointly by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), and India’s Department of Space. The conference aims to foster international cooperation on emerging technologies, climate change monitoring, lunar and Martian exploration, and low Earth orbit commercialization.
