PM Modi on National Space Day: India Advancing in Space with Youth, Startups, and Astronaut Pool Plans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of National Space Day, praising India’s scientists, startups, and astronauts for their achievements in advancing the country’s space journey. In his National Space Day speech, the Prime Minister declared that India has reached the Moon and Mars and is now preparing to venture deeper into space exploration.

Highlighting the country’s progress in advanced technologies, PM Modi said, “Today India is rapidly progressing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion.”

PM Modi Recalls Meeting with Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

The Prime Minister fondly recalled his recent meeting with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who earlier this month proudly hoisted the Indian tricolour aboard the International Space Station (ISS). “The moment when he showed me the tricolour was beyond words,” PM Modi said, describing Shukla’s courage and dreams as symbolic of the aspirations of New India’s youth.

He further announced plans to create an Indian astronaut pool and invited young people to join, adding, “To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare India’s astronaut pool. Today on Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this pool to give wings to India’s space dreams.”

Encouragement for Startups and Private Sector Participation

The Prime Minister urged startups and private players to strengthen their role in India’s space industry. He expressed confidence that India could witness the rise of at least five unicorns in the space sector within the next five years.

Currently, India carries out around 5–6 major launches annually. PM Modi set an ambitious target for the private sector: “In the next five years, I want to see 50 rocket launches every year—one every week.”

Achievements and India’s Global Leadership in Space

PM Modi underlined India’s growing stature in global space exploration, noting that the country has recently become the fourth nation in the world with the capability of docking and undocking in space. He emphasized that India’s progress in space has become a tradition of achieving “new milestones one after another.”

He also recalled the historic Chandrayaan-3 success, when India became the first nation to land on the South Pole of the Moon in 2023.

Inspiring Youth Through Global and National Platforms

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s role in hosting the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, with participants from over 60 countries, where Indian youth won medals. He also appreciated initiatives like the Indian Space Hackathon and Robotics Challenge launched by ISRO to engage and inspire young minds in space science.

The occasion marks the second National Space Day, declared by PM Modi after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023. The 2025 theme—“Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities”—symbolizes India’s journey from ancient astronomical heritage to modern spaceflight aspirations.

Get Latest News Live on MTIMES along with Breaking News and Top Headlines, Political News and around The World.

You May Like

Trending Searches Today |

Israel Claims 75% Control of Gaza: 2,000 Terrorists Eliminated, 10,000 Targets Struck

India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-5 Missile

Modi Independence Day GST Announcement Signals Major Two-Slab Tax Reform

OSSSC Cancels and Reschedules Preliminary Exam for RI, ICDS Supervisor, ARI, Amin & SFS Posts

Shreyas Iyer Emerges as Frontrunner to Replace Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI Captain: Sources

Coolie Box Office Collection Day 6: Rajinikanth Film Crosses ₹216 Crore in India, Stays Ahead of War 2