India’s space mission marks a historic leap towards Viksit Bharat: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Aug 18: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Monday hailed the space experiments conducted by Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as a symbol of India’s growing global role in science and technology.
Introducing a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on “The Critical Role of the Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047”, the Minister described Shukla’s mission as not just a symbolic achievement but a demonstration of India’s capability in cost-effective space technology, indigenous innovation, and international collaboration.
“These experiments personify India as Vishwabandhu Bharat,” Singh said. “Though conducted by an Indian using indigenous kits, their benefits will extend to the entire mankind.”
The Minister underlined that the ISS mission, executed at a fraction of global costs, showcased India’s ability to harness intellectual talent and scientific planning. He credited the reforms that opened the space sector to private players, leading to the rise of more than 300 startups driving the country’s expanding space economy.
During his stay in space, Shukla carried out a series of experiments in life sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, plant physiology and cognitive research—all designed and developed in India. According to Singh, their applications will benefit health, agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning on Earth.
Tracing the evolution of India’s space journey, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership created the ecosystem for rapid progress, starting with the 2018 Red Fort announcement of India’s human spaceflight mission. Since then, collaborations have expanded with NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX.
Looking ahead, the Minister outlined upcoming milestones: the Vyommitra humanoid mission in 2026, India’s first human spaceflight under Gaganyaan in 2027, an indigenous space station by 2035, and an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. “A few years before 2047, a young Indian will declare from the lunar surface the arrival of a Viksit Bharat,” he told Parliament, calling the achievement a milestone not just for one astronaut, but for the aspirations of an entire nation.
