Page 36 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022

India which presents enormous for Indian vehicle, is a major
Space in Resurgent India
K. Kasturirangan
Former Chairman, ISRO
and Padma Vibhushan Awardee
Endeavours in outer space
had been the fountain head of
the spirit of human enterprise.
India’s journey in space in the
recent past has witnessed
several transformatory initiatives
propelled by the vision of our
Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra
Modiji. The recent initiative to
restructure space activities to
facilitate active involvement of
private sector is a case in point.
Modiji’s interests in space
dates back even to his earlier
role as the Chief Minister of
Gujarat, when he effectively
used space capabilities for finer
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potential for growth and demonstration of the potential of
innovations. India to play a role both nationally
The second is about the key and globally. This has potential to
strategy of self-reliance and unfold many new opportunities
how it can lead to the heights of for future transportation and
success and excellence. energy systems in the long term.
The third message is the The restructuring initiative of
Governance and for interactions
imperative need of collaboration the Government for the space
at the grass-roots administration
level. As a keen follower of for nation building - where the activities involving ISRO and the
space developments, he hosted Government and commercial public as well as private sector
sector work together and in industry is a transformational
reception for all the scientists at
the Space Applications Centre unison. In a sense, the initiative step in view of the expansion and
of the Government to open the growth of services in the Indian
sharing his joy at the success of
space sector for the private economy. The developmental
Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, which is
fondly remembered by the space entities acts as a springboard for needs of India as it is emerging
bonding research and innovation. to be the world’s third largest
community even today.
The world is witnessing economy by 2027, provide a sound
The role for space amidst
the enormous opportunities private sector advances in basis for the growth of space
opening up through service- reusable transportation systems, economy to the aspired level of
satellite constellations for global USD 50 billion from the present
driven economy and digitally-
connected India demands a space services and exploration USD 7 billion. The rapid needs to
of planetary resources. Globally, grow space infrastructure in pace
structure for space activities
the space economy, which with the burgeoning demands
that invites wider and deeper
participation of entities beyond is estimated to be USD 469 for connectivity and information
billion in 2021 is predominantly services provide a strong basis
Government. The initiative
contributed by the commercial for expanding India’s space
taken in the mid-2020 for fully
opening the space sector is a space industry. Indian launch economy. The cost-effectiveness
vehicles, particularly the PSLV, has and unique flavour that India can
transformational step.
While self-reliance in space set a record in terms of launching render in its services can expand
had been a driving force since its commercial payloads by giving global opportunities.
hundred per cent success, The transformatory initiatives,
inception, a renaissance for this
eternally vital principle is given which is spread over 381 foreign both in the structure and content
satellites from 34 countries. The of Indian space endeavours is
by Modiji in the present context of
resurgent India. India’s concept recent success of LVM3 Mission a clear manifestation of the all-
encompassing vision of the Prime
in launching 36 commercial
of Atmanirbharta does not isolate satellites, which had been the Minister for a developed India.
it from the rest of the world. On heaviest commercial payload
the other hand, it paves the way
for substantial linkage with the
global community. Because of the
self-reliant strategy, ISRO is able
to provide satellite and launch
services today, both nationally
and internationally.
Modiji has mentioned three
important points in his 'Mann ki
Baat' message of October 2022
edition.
The first is the satellites’
role in the digitally-connected
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