India Now A Global Space Power: PM

India is going to scale new heights. The country is busy preparing for many important missions like Gaganyaan, SpaDeX and Chandrayaan-4. We are also working on the Venus Orbiter Mission and Mars Lander Mission -- Narendra Modi, PM

New Delhi: Noting that India has become a global space power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country is leading the most cost-effective, but successful space programme in the entire world and is going to scale new heights in the future.

Many youth are attaining new milestones in the field of space startups, Modi said, adding 10 years ago, there was only one company, but today there are more than 325 space startups working in the country. In his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’, he also paid tributes to former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan, who passed away last week.

“Two days ago we lost the country’s great scientist Dr K Kasturirangan ji. Whenever I met Kasturirangan ji, we discussed topics like the talent of Indian youth, modern education, Space-Science. His contribution in lending newer heights to science, education and India’s space programme shall always be remembered. ISRO attained a new identity under his leadership,” he said.

The space programmes that moved forward under his guidance gave global recognition to India’s efforts, Modi said.

“The times to come are ushering in a lot of new possibilities in Space. India is going to scale new heights. The country is busy preparing for many important missions like Gaganyaan, SpaDeX and Chandrayaan-4. We are also working on the Venus Orbiter Mission and Mars Lander Mission,” he said. Indian space scientists are going to fill the people of the country with new pride through their innovations, Modi said. Recalling the ‘Champaran Satyagraha’, Modi said it was the first big experiment by Bapu in India.

Many of the satellites that India uses today were launched under the supervision of Dr. Kasturirangan, he said.

“There was one more special facet to his personality, which the younger generation can learn from. He always accorded importance to innovation. The vision of learning, knowing and doing something new is very inspiring,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said Kasturirangan also played a major role in formulating the new National Education Policy of the country.