India is set to become a major player in 21st-century space exploration, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, said on Saturday.
Tracing India’s space journey, which spans over six decades, Singh hailed the country’s achievements in space as a global benchmark and acknowledged its growth in the sector over the past decade. He noted that India has mastered key technologies, including satellite development, launch capabilities, and operations.
“India will be a major player in 21st-century space exploration,” Singh said, citing recent successes such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the SpaDeX mission, and the ongoing progress of the Gaganyaan mission.
“India has acquired independent capabilities in building, launching, and operating satellites, as well as deriving applications from these satellites to benefit society,” he added.
The minister made these remarks while hosting a high-level European Union delegation led by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and space sector experts in New Delhi. The discussions focused on ongoing and future cooperation between India and Europe in space exploration.
Singh lauded the long-standing collaboration between India and Europe in the space sector, describing it as extensive and mutually enriching.
“India-EU interactions in space exploration have a long history and continue to grow stronger,” he said.
He also briefed the EU delegation on India’s ambitious space agenda, which includes the continuation of the Gaganyaan programme—India’s human spaceflight mission—the establishment of India’s space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and an Indian landing on the Moon.
Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA), space agencies of individual European nations, and entities such as EUMETSAT.
European industries have also contributed to India’s space programme, with notable examples including support for liquid engine development, the launch of India’s first experimental communication satellite, and ESA’s assistance in the Aditya and Chandrayaan-3 missions.
Singh also highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s space startup ecosystem, following the sector’s opening to private investment in 2020.
With over 200 startups engaged in rocket building, satellite manufacturing, ground segment operations, and application development, the industry is witnessing rapid growth.
Many of these startups have also established a presence in Europe, marking a new chapter in global space collaboration, Singh added.
IANS