Space to Ensure Global Space for India as Frontline Nation: Dr. Jitendra Singh

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Nov: Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said on Tuesday that the space sector is set to cement India’s position as a “frontline nation” on the global stage.

Speaking at the India International Space Conclave (IISC 2025), the Minister underscored the profound transformation underway, which is rapidly elevating India as a preferred global destination for space sector engagement and investment.

Reforms Unleash Private Sector Growth
Dr. Singh pointed out that this transformation directly reflects the Conclave’s theme, “Expanding Horizons: Innovation, Inclusion & Resilience in the New Space Age.” He credited the government’s comprehensive reforms—including the establishment of IN-SPACe as a single-window regulatory body and the release of the 2023 space policy—for creating an ecosystem where private talent and investment can converge.

Highlighting the “Inclusion” aspect of the theme, the Minister noted the dramatic surge in private participation. What was once a closed domain now features over 300 space start-ups that have emerged in just a few years, many of which have secured foreign investments. He stated that the confidence shown by international delegations, including those from Japan and Italy, reinforces India’s growing stature.

Space Technology Transforms Governance
The Minister emphasized that India’s most significant contribution is the widespread application of space technology for governance and citizen welfare, noting that nearly 70% of India’s space applications now support “ease of living.”

Dr. Singh provided several examples of this integration, including:

⦁ Gati Shakti for advanced infrastructure planning.
⦁ SWAMITVA for accurate land mapping.
⦁ Satellite-enabled disaster management and telemedicine services in remote regions.

Advanced railway safety systems that can detect obstructions.
He further linked these applications to “Resilience,” a core element of the Conclave’s theme, citing how satellite-based services underpin essential national functions like disaster response, agriculture, and connectivity. India is also extending these space-based capabilities to neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Dr. Singh concluded by stressing that with the space economy projected to grow fivefold in the coming years, the strategic dismantling of long-standing barriers under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has positioned India to secure a dominant global role.