Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, today inaugurated the International Conference on Space 2025, where he announced India’s ambitious space goals, including a Bharatiya Space Station by 2035 and an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The Minister, who spoke virtually at the conference, said the nation is entering a transformative phase in its space journey. The conference’s theme was “Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth”.
Singh highlighted recent milestones such as the success of Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole. He also referenced the achievements of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian Air Force officer to travel to the International Space Station. The Minister also outlined future exploration missions to Mars, Venus, and asteroids, along with the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
The Minister underscored the importance of reforms initiated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which have opened the space sector to private participation, startups, and academia. He noted that over 300 startups are now active in areas including launch vehicles, satellites, and ground systems, which is fostering innovation, generating jobs, and providing opportunities for young professionals. He stressed that the true value of space lies in its applications for everyday life, such as in agriculture, health, education, urban development, and governance, stating that space must empower every sector and serve the common citizen.
Singh also emphasized India’s commitment to international collaboration, citing partnerships like the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission with the United States and the upcoming Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission with Japan. He said that skill development is a critical part of India’s space strategy, with ISRO outreach programs, academic Centres of Excellence, and industry-academia collaborations nurturing talent in fields like satellite design, propulsion, AI-driven applications, and space law. The conference was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and drew over 500 delegates from India and abroad. Singh commended CII for creating a platform to bring together stakeholders and welcomed the formation of the CII’s National Committee on Space. He concluded by reiterating India’s vision of using space for sustainability, equity, and global progress
