Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that India is entering a transformative phase in its space journey, with ambitious goals ranging from a Bharatiya Space Station by 2035 to landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. He was speaking virtually at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Space 2025, themed “Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth.”
Highlighting recent milestones, the Minister referred to the success of Chandrayaan-3, which placed India among the leading spacefaring nations by becoming the first to land near the lunar south pole. He also pointed to the achievements of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian Air Force officer to travel to the International Space Station, and outlined India’s upcoming exploration missions to Mars, Venus, and asteroids, alongside the human spaceflight programme Gaganyaan.
Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the role of reforms initiated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which have opened the sector to private participation, startups, and academia. Over 300 startups are currently active in areas including launch vehicles, satellites, and ground systems. This, he said, is not only fostering innovation but also generating jobs, investments, and opportunities for young professionals.
He noted that the true value of space lies in its applications across everyday life — from agriculture and health to education, urban development, and governance. “Space must empower every sector and serve the common citizen,” he said.
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