New Delhi, September 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain based on international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. He stressed that scientific data and space technologies should be used for the benefit of humanity with openness and integrity.
Addressing the first International Space Summit virtually, Modi said space, once a subject of human imagination, has now become central to life on Earth, influencing areas ranging from climate and agriculture to oceans and communities.
“As orbits become more crowded, technologies more powerful, and actors more numerous, our choices must be clear: cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion,” he said.
Emphasising India's philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — One Earth, One Family, One Future, Modi said the principle should extend beyond Earth as humanity expands its activities into space.
He highlighted India's space journey and the contribution of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), describing it as a globally respected institution known for technological excellence and cost-effective missions.
According to Modi, India's space capabilities are being used in several areas, including agriculture, fisheries, weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation. He noted that more than 430 satellites from 34 countries have been launched aboard Indian rockets, demonstrating the international confidence in India's space programme.
The Prime Minister credited generations of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians for building ISRO's global reputation through decades of dedicated work.
He also highlighted India's recent achievements, including Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to land near the Moon's south polar region, and Aditya-L1, India's mission to study the Sun. He noted that an Indian astronaut had also visited the International Space Station last year.
Looking ahead, Modi said India aims to establish its own space station by 2035 and send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. He reiterated that the benefits of India's space ambitions should ultimately serve humanity as a whole.
Modi further pointed to the rapid growth of India's private space sector, saying that private enterprise is increasingly complementing ISRO's capabilities and expanding the country's space ecosystem.
Highlighting India's long-standing partnership with France, he said the two countries have cooperated since the early days of India's space programme at Thumba in the 1960s. Their collaboration now extends to areas including Earth observation and advanced space technologies.
Inviting France and other countries to join India's next phase of space exploration, Modi said the Paris summit should send a clear message of collective responsibility: explore together, innovate together and protect space together for the benefit of present and future generations.
