BY BISHSHWAR MISHRA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India will have to ensure that in the 21st century, space should play an important role in uniting the world.
He said India was one of the very few countries that have end-to-end capability in space. Speaking at the launch of Indian Space Association, Mr Modi said India has covered all aspects of space technology – space satellites, launch vehicle applications, interplanetary missions and more.
The Prime Minister said major reforms happening in India today regarding Space Sector and Space Tech are due to a decisive government. He said the reforms in space sector and space tech is unprecedented and government’s approach is based on 4 pillars when it comes to space reforms. He said freedom of innovation to the private sector is the first pillar and the role of the government as an enabler is the second. Preparing youth for the future and looking at space sector as a resource for the progress of the common man are the other two pillars.
The Prime Minister stressed that this new outlook is important because it is not the time for linear innovation for India, but for exponential innovation.
He said this can only be made possible when the government plays the role of an enabler, and not a handler.
Mr Modi said the country is witnessing dynamic reforms today because India’s vision is clear and the vision is – Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said it is not just a vision, but a well-thought, well-planned integrated economic strategy that will turn India into a global manufacturing hub and innovation centre. He added that the strategy will make India a global center of innovations, based on India’s technological expertise.
He said over the years, government’s focus has been on research and development related to new technology, as well as to bring it to the general public. In the last seven years, NDA government has made space technology an important tool for last mile delivery, and transparent governance.
The Prime Minister said India’s space sector is a big medium for the progress of 130 crore people. He pointed out that the space sector means better mapping, imaging and connectivity facilities for the common human. He added that the space sector means better speed from shipment to delivery for entrepreneurs.