Even amid cross-border strikes, PM Modi keeps focus on governance, addresses ‘Global Space Conference’

New Delhi, May 7: Even as Indian Armed Forces carried out one of the most significant cross-border military operations in recent years under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained firmly engaged in his routine governance commitments. Despite spending the night overseeing the high-stakes precision strikes, the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning addressed the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) 2025 via videoconference.

The strikes, which took place in the pre-dawn hours, marked India’s most assertive military action since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, officials confirmed.

“Even in the midst of a national security operation of the highest magnitude, the Prime Minister did not let his regular duties be disrupted,” said a senior government official. “His commitment to India’s long-term vision remained steadfast.” “Space is a declaration of curiosity and courage”: PM Speaking to a global audience of scientists, astronauts, and policymakers, Modi opened the GLEX 2025 summit by framing space not merely as a scientific domain but as a shared human aspiration.

“Space is not merely a destination but a declaration of curiosity, courage, and collective progress,” he said. “Indian rockets carry more than payloads—they carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.” Reflecting on India’s space journey—from launching a sounding rocket in 1963 to becoming the first country to land near the Moon’s South Pole—Modi highlighted key milestones: the success of Mangalyaan on its first attempt to Mars in 2014, Chandrayaan missions, and the development of indigenous cryogenic engines.

He emphasized the recent milestone of India docking two satellites in space, calling it a step forward for orbital servicing and modular satellite platforms. “India has launched 100 satellites in a single mission, developed cutting-edge propulsion systems, and helped over 34 countries deploy their payloads using Indian vehicles,” he said.

Moon Landings, Mars, and Beyond

Outlining India’s long-term goals, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the country’s intent to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035, and send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. He also highlighted India’s deep-space ambitions targeting Mars and Venus. The upcoming ISRO-NASA joint mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station marks a new chapter in India’s growing international space cooperation. “India’s space programme is not about competing, but about collaborating for humanity,” Modi said. “It is about pushing boundaries together, with science as our compass and the well-being of all as our goal.”

He also reiterated India’s philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—the world as one family—underlining that India’s space efforts seek to address global challenges and inspire future generations.

The Prime Minister stressed that space technology is a tool not just for discovery, but for empowerment and governance. He cited examples of satellite applications in weather forecasting, rail safety, fishermen alerts, and the GatiShakti logistics platform. India’s space ecosystem now includes over 250 startups, with major innovations in satellite design, propulsion, and imaging systems. Mr. Modi also lauded the growing participation of women scientists in India’s space missions. “For India, the sky is not the limit,” he concluded. “We dream together, build together, and reach for the stars together.”