India has become Global Space Power PM Modi charts country’s stellar journey

New Delhi, Apr 27: “Today India has become a Global Space Power. We have created a record by launching 104 Satellites simultaneously. We have become the first country to reach the South Pole of the Moon,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Sunday, as he outlined the nation’s rising stature in global space exploration. Highlighting India’s recent milestones, including the Mars Orbiter Mission and the Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun, PM Modi said, “Today India is leading the most cost-effective but successful Space Program in the entire world.

Many countries of the world take help of ISRO for their Satellites and Space Missions.” Speaking during the 121st episode of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s remarkable progress in space exploration, describing the nation as a “Global Space Power” and laying out an ambitious roadmap for future missions.

“My dear countrymen, this month of April marks 50 years of the launch of the Aryabhatta Satellite,” Modi said. “Today, when we look back and remember this journey of 50 years, we realise how far we have come.

This flight of India’s dreams in space once commenced with just conviction.” Recalling the early struggles of Indian space pioneers, PM Modi paid tribute to the dedication and ingenuity of the first generation of scientists. “Some young scientists with the passion to do something for the nation... they neither had the modern resources like today, nor the access to world technology as such. If at all they had anything, it was talent, dedication, hard work and the passion to do something for the country,” he said. “You must have seen pictures of our scientists carrying critical equipment themselves on bullock carts and bicycles.” From such humble beginnings, PM Modi said, India has now emerged as a major player in global space affairs.

The Prime Minister also shared personal memories from key moments in India’s space journey. “When we see a Satellite launch by ISRO, we are filled with pride. I had a similar feeling when I witnessed the launch of PSLV-C-23 in 2014,” he said. “I was also present at the ISRO Center in Bengaluru during the landing of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.” Reflecting on the setback of Chandrayaan-2, PM Modi praised the resilience of Indian scientists. “At that time Chandrayaan failed to achieve the expected success. It was a very difficult time for the scientists. But I could see with my own eyes the patience of the scientists and their zeal to achieve something,” he recalled. “And a few years later, the whole world too noticed how the same scientists made Chandrayaan-3 a success.”

Looking ahead, Modi outlined a bold vision for India’s future in space exploration. “India has opened her Space Sector for the private sector as well,” he said. “Today many youth are attaining new milestones in the field of Space Startups. Ten years ago, there was only one company, but today there are more than 325 Space Startups working in the country.” The Prime Minister said the coming years would see India reaching new frontiers with projects such as the human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, the advanced satellite docking experiment SpaDeX, and Chandrayaan-4. “We are also working on the Venus Orbiter Mission and Mars Lander Mission,” he added. “Our Space Scientists are going to fill the countrymen with new pride through their innovations.” Modi concluded by emphasizing the transformative power of India’s achievements in space. “The times to come are ushering in a lot of new possibilities in Space,” he said. “India is going to scale new heights.”