New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India is moving forward with great speed in the global space race and is rapidly progressing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engine and electric propulsion.
In his address to the nation via video message on the occasion of National Space Day 2025, he highlighted India’s rising stature in space science and its growing impact on governance, innovation, and global collaboration.
This year’s theme, “From Aryabhata to Gaganyaan”, he said, symbolises both the country’s ancient knowledge and its modern ambitions. “Achieving milestone after milestone in the space sector has now become a natural trait of India and its scientists,” Modi remarked, pointing to India’s consistent progress in areas such as semi-cryogenic engines, electric propulsion, and docking technologies.
He shared that India is preparing to launch the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, followed by the establishment of an Indian space station in the years ahead. Reiterating the government’s commitment to using space technology for governance, PM Modi said, “Space-tech is increasingly becoming an integral part of public services in India.”
The Prime Minister recalled India’s achievement as the first country to reach the Moon’s South Pole, and the recent moment when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla unfurled the national flag at the International Space Station. He said these milestones reflect the courage and aspirations of a new India.
“In the coming years, we must venture deeper into space, beyond the Moon and Mars. The vastness of space reminds us that no destination is final. Similarly, our policies and efforts must keep evolving,” he said.
Modi cited examples including satellite-enabled crop insurance, disaster response systems, fisheries management, and the use of geospatial data in the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. He also said that National Meet 2.0, held a day earlier, focused on integrating space technology into various sectors of administration, and urged for the continuation of such efforts at both central and state levels.
Referring to India’s hosting of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, with participation from over 60 countries, Modi expressed happiness over Indian students securing medals, calling it a mark of India’s growing global presence in space science.
He lauded initiatives such as the Indian Space Hackathon and the Robotics Challenge launched by ISRO to spark interest among youth. Announcing the creation of an “Astronaut Pool”, he invited young Indians to dream big and contribute to the nation’s space journey.
The Prime Minister emphasised the government’s focus on “Reform, Perform, and Transform” in the space sector. He said, “There was a time when futuristic sectors like space were bound by restrictions. Today, the private sector is actively involved and over 350 startups are driving innovation in space-tech”.
PM Modi announced that India’s first PSLV built by the private sector will be launched soon, alongside the development of the first private communication satellite and an Earth Observation Satellite Constellation through public-private partnership.
He challenged India’s space startup ecosystem to create five unicorns in the next five years, and encouraged the private sector to help increase the annual number of rocket launches in India from 5–6 to 50.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, officials from ISRO, scientists, engineers, and members of the startup ecosystem were present at the event.
We have reached Moon and Mars, must venture deeper into space, says PM Modi
