PM launches Indian Space Association via video conferencing

Newdelhi:11/10/21:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched Indian Space Association (ISpA) today via video conferencing. He also interacted with representatives of the Space Industry on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted the birth anniversary of two great sons of the country, Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan and Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh today. These two great personalities have played a huge role in giving direction to post-independence India. They showed how, by taking everyone along, with everyone’s efforts,  major changes become reality for the nation. Their philosophy of life inspires us even today,  the Prime Minister said paying tribute to the two personalities.

The Prime Minister stressed that there has never been such a decisive government in India as it is today. The major reforms that are happening in India today in the Space Sector and Space Tech are an example of this. He congratulated all of those present for the formation of the Indian Space Association – (ISpA).

The Prime Minister remarked that the Government’s approach to space reforms is based on 4 pillars. First, the freedom of innovation to the private sector. Second, the role of the government as an enabler. Third, preparing youth for the future. And fourth, to see the space sector as a resource for the progress of the common man. The Prime Minister said that the space sector is a major medium for the progress of 130 crore countrymen. He remarked that for India, the space sector means better mapping, imaging and connectivity facilities for the common people. Also, the space sector means better speed from shipment to delivery for entrepreneurs, this also means better security and income for fishermen and better forecast of the natural calamity,  he added.

Talking about the young entrepreneurs and startups, the Prime Minister said that the government encourages industry, young innovators and startups at every level.  He elaborated that to develop a strong startup ecosystem, a platform approach is very important. He defined the platform system as “an approach where the government creates open-access public controlled platforms and makes that available to the industry and enterprises. Entrepreneurs prepare new solutions on this basic platform”. The Prime Minister illustrated this with the example of the platform of UPI which became the basis of a strong fintech network. He said similar platforms are being encouraged in space, geospatial fields and for use of drones in various areas.

The Prime Minister expressed the hope that through the suggestions of the gathering today and active engagement of the stakeholders very soon a better Spacecom policy and Remote Sensing Policy will emerge.

The Prime Minister noted how the 20th-century tendency of trying to rule the space and the space sector, divided the countries of the world. Now in the 21st century, India will have to ensure that space plays an important role in uniting and connecting the world, he concluded.