PM Inaugurates In-SPACe, Says He Hopes Indian Firms Will Become Global Leaders In Space

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the headquarters of the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) here, set up to promote private investment and innovation in the space sector.

As in Information Technology, he hopes that Indian firms will emerge as leaders in the global space sector too, he said. Earlier, the space sector was closed to private companies as “they could only be vendors”, but his government opened it up by bringing in reforms, Modi said.

Big ideas can only make big winners. We have removed all restrictions by bringing reforms in the space sector,” he said.

IN-SPACe will support private industry and begin the process of “making winners in the space sector, the prime minister further said. I am hopeful that like in the IT sector, our industry will also take the lead in the global space sector, he said.

Today on social media, if youths have to share something important, they will write `watch this space’. IN-SPACe has the potential to revolutionise the space industry. So I would say ‘watch this space’.

The government is also working on a new space policy which will provide ease of doing business in the sector, he said. “India’s space programme has been, in a way, the biggest identity of `Atmanirbhar Bharat’. When this programme gets the strength of the Indian private sector, you can imagine how much it will increase its strength,” the prime minister said.In the past, the country’s youth did not get the opportunity to work in the space sector and it was our misfortune that “the difference between regulation and restriction was forgotten,” he said.

“Indian youth carry with them innovation, energy and spirit….Their risk-taking capacity is also very high. These are vital for the development of any country….If any youth wants to innovate, can we say, this can only be done by government facilities?….But in our country, this was the situation in many sectors,” the prime minister said.

“Our government is removing all restrictions before the Indian youth, it is carrying out reforms,” he said, listing the opening of defence production, drone policy, geo-spatial data guidelines and work-from-anywhere facility in the telecom/IT sector as examples.

The government is working on the New Indian Space Policy for increasing the coordination between government companies, space industry, start-ups and institutions, the PM said.

“We are soon going to bring a policy to improve ease of doing business in the space sector,” he added.

“It is our endeavor to create the maximum ease of doing business environment for the private sector of India, so that the private sector of the country helps the countrymen equally in the ease of living,” he added.

When the government started reforms in the space sector, some people raised doubts as to who will respond to it, but today there are more than 60 Indian private companies in the sector, Modi said.

The private sector has entered the sector by having its own launch vehicles, satellites and some firms have even prepared designs for their own rockets, he said.

The data collected by private space companies is going to give them huge power in future, Modi said, adding that the global space industry is valued at USD 400 billion and has the potential to become a USD 1 trillion industry by 2040.”There are two areas which are going to be most influential in the coming days, they are space and sea,” Modi further said, adding that the country needs to move forward without delay in these areas.

The inauguration function also witnessed the singing of MoUs between IN-SPACe and private sector companies working in the field of space-based applications and services. The government has launched IN-SPACe, an independent agency under the Department of Space, to promote private investment and innovation in the space sector. It will facilitate and support the private sector and help it participate in building satellites, launch-vehicles, carry out launches, develop applications and provide space based services.

Text of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the inauguration of IN-Space Headquarters in Bopal, Ahmedabad

Hi! My cabinet colleagues at the Center and MPs from the same region, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Gujarat’s popular Mridu and Makkam, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, my colleague in Parliament Shri C.R. Patil, Chairman IN-SPACE, Pawan Goenka, Secretary, Department of Space, Shri S. Somnathji, all representatives of India’s space industry, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen.

Today a wonderful chapter has been added in the development journey of modern India of 21st century. I congratulate all the countrymen and especially the Scientific Community for the headquarters of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center i.e. INSPACE. Nowadays we see that youth have to post something exciting or interesting on social media, so before that they alert and messaging in alert – ‘Watch this space’ for India’s space industry, launch of INSPACE, ‘Watch this space’ is like a moment. INSPACE is an unprecedented opportunity for the youth of India to showcase their talent to the best scientific minds of India. Whether they are working in government or in private sector, INSPACE has come with great opportunities for all. INSPACE has a lot of potential to revolutionize India’s space industry and that’s why I would definitely say today that ‘Watch this space’ INSPACE is For Space, INSPACE is For Pace, INSPACE is For S. 

comrades,

For decades, the private industry associated with the space sector in India was seen only as a vendor. The government used to work on all the space missions and projects. According to the need, only a few parts and equipment were taken from the people of our private sector. Due to making the private sector a mere vendor, the way forward was always blocked in front of it, a wall remained standing. Those who are not in the government system, whether they are a scientist or a youth, they could not work on their ideas related to the space sector. And who was getting hurt in all this? The country was being harmed. And it is a witness that after all big ideas make winners. By reforming the space sector, liberating it from all restrictions, Today, by supporting the private industry through INSPACE, the country is starting a campaign to make them winners. Today the private sector will not remain just as a vendor but will play the role of big winners in the space sector. When the power of India’s government space institutions and the passion of India’s private sector come together, the sky will also be less for it. ‘Even sky is not the limit’! As the world is seeing the power of India’s IT sector today, in the coming days, the strength of India’s space sector will reach new heights. INSPACE will also work to facilitate the transfer of technology between the space industry, startups and ISRO. It is also being ensured that the private sector can also use the resources of ISRO, work together with ISRO. Will also work to facilitate transfer of technology between startups and ISRO. It is also being ensured that the private sector can also use the resources of ISRO, work together with ISRO. Will also work to facilitate transfer of technology between startups and ISRO. It is also being ensured that the private sector can also use the resources of ISRO, work together with ISRO. 

comrades,

While doing this reform in the space sector, I always had in my mind the immense potential of the youth of India and the startups I have come to visit, young people from a very young age and with very high spirits, are taking those steps forward. Seeing and hearing them made my heart very happy. I congratulate all these young people. The youth of India were not getting as many opportunities in the earlier arrangements in the space sector. The youth of the country, innovation with you, Brings energy and spirit of exploration. Their risk taking capacity is also very high. It is very important for the development of any country. But if a youth wants to build a building, can we tell him to build it only with PWD. If any youth wants to innovate, can we tell him that this work will be done only from the government facility. It sounds strange to hear but this was the situation in different sectors in our country. It was the misfortune of the country that over time the difference between Regulations and Restrictions was forgotten. Today, when the youth of India wants to become more and more participant in nation building, then we cannot put a condition in front of him that whatever has to be done, do it through government route. The era of such a condition is gone. Our government is removing every obstacle in front of the youth of India. Constantly doing reforms. Opening up the defense sector to private industry, making a modern drone policy, making geospatial data guidelines, facilitating Work from Anywhere in the Telecom-IT sector, the government is working in every direction. It is our endeavor to create maximum Ease of Doing Business environment for the private sector of India, so that the private sector of the country helps the countrymen equally in the Ease of Living.

comrades,

Before coming here, I was also looking at INSPACE’s Technical Lab and Clean Room. Here state-of-the-art equipment for the design, fabrication, assembly, integration and testing of satellites will be available to Indian companies. Many more modern facilities and infrastructure will be created here which will help in increasing the capacity of the space industry. Today I also got a chance to visit the exhibition area, interact with people from the space industry and space start-ups. I remember when we were doing reforms in the space sector, some people were apprehensive that who would be a private player in the space industry? But today more than 60 Indian private companies came in the space sector, today they are already leading in it and I am more happy to see them today. I am proud that our private industry colleagues have launched vehicle, satellite, Work has started rapidly in the areas of ground segment and space application. Private players from India have also come forward to manufacture PSLV rocket. Not only this, many private companies have even designed their own rockets. This is a glimpse of the limitless possibilities of India’s space sector. For this, I congratulate my scientists, industrialists, young entrepreneurs and all the countrymen and if I have to congratulate anyone the most, for this new turning point in this whole journey, I have chosen the path of a new height, To thank someone the most, I have to thank the people of ISRO. Our old secretaries of ISRO are sitting here who led this thing and now our Somnath ji is taking it forward and that’s why I am giving full credit to these ISRO colleagues. I am giving to these scientists. This is not a small decision, friends and these startups know that due to such an important decision, they have high spirits to give something to India and the world and hence the entire credit goes to ISRO. He has taken great steps in this work, he has tried to move things forward fast and where he had his own mastery, he is saying no, come the youth of the country, this is yours, you go ahead. This in itself is a very revolutionary decision. You go ahead This in itself is a very revolutionary decision. You go ahead This in itself is a very revolutionary decision.   

comrades, 

At this time we are celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of 75 years of our independence. Our successes in independent India, which inspired crores of countrymen, gave them confidence, in them our space achievements have a special contribution. When ISRO launches a rocket, sends a mission to space, the whole country joins it, feels proud. The country prays for him, and when he is successful, every countryman expresses it with joy, ecstasy and pride, and every citizen of India considers that success as his own success. And even if something untoward happens, something unimaginable happens, the country stands with its scientists and encourages them. Is someone a scientist or a farmer-labourer, who understands or does not understand the techniques of science, Above all, our space mission becomes the mission of the mind of the people of the country. We saw this emotional solidarity of India during Mission Chandrayaan. India’s space mission has in a way been the biggest identity of ‘Self-reliant India’. Now when this campaign will get the power of India’s private sector, you can imagine how much its power will increase. 

comrades,

In this time of 21st century, the role of space technology in your life is increasing day by day. The more roles, the more applications, the more possibilities. Space-tech is about to become the basis of a major revolution in the 21st century. Space-tech is now going to become a technology not only of distant space, but of our personal space. The role of space technology in the life of ordinary human beings, the way space technology is involved in everyday life, often goes unnoticed. We turn on the TV, so many channels are available to us. But very few people know that this is happening with the help of satellite. Whether to go somewhere, to see whether there is traffic or not, which is the shortest route, with whose help all this is happening? It is happening with the help of satellite. There are so many works of urban planning, somewhere a road is being built, somewhere a bridge is being built, somewhere schools, somewhere hospitals are being built, Somewhere ground water table has to be checked, infra projects have to be monitored, all these works are being done with the help of satellite. For the planning of our Coastal Areas, Space Technology has a big role in their development as well. Fishermen going to the sea also get information about fishing and sea storms through satellite. The rain forecasts that are coming today are coming out almost right. In the same way, when the cyclone comes, what will be the exact fall point, in which direction it will go, for how many hours, how many minutes it will fall, all these details are being received with the help of satellite. Not only this, whether it is crop insurance scheme in agriculture sector, campaign of soil health cards, Space technology is being used in all. We cannot even imagine today’s modern aviation sector without space technology. All these are subjects related to the life of common man. In the future and you will know that this time in the budget, we have planned to do a big campaign of teaching, giving tuition to children through TV. Not only this, those children who are going for competitive exams and those children who have to leave the village and take tuition in big cities by paying very expensive fees, we are also getting this syllabus prepared through satellite as per their requirement till their home. So that the children do not have to spend extra money and the poor children of the poor can also get the best tuition through satellite on their TV screen, on their laptop screen, on their mobile, in that direction we are going .

comrades,

In the future, the use of space-tech is going to increase more and more in many such areas. How can we make space technology more accessible to the common man, how space-tech can become a medium to increase the ease of living, and, how can we use this technology for the development and potential of the country, this direction INSPACE and private players need to work continuously. There are many possibilities in front of us related to Geo-spatial mapping. The private sector can play a big role in this. We have huge data of government satellites available today. Now in the coming time, the private sector will also have a lot of data of its own. This wealth of data is going to give you great power in the world. At present, the size of the space industry in the world is about $ 400 billion. There is a possibility of it becoming a one trillion dollar industry by 2040. Today we also have talent, There is also experience, but today our participation in this industry is only public participation i.e. private partnership is only 2 per-cent. We have to increase our share in the global space industry, and our private sector has a big role in this. I am also seeing the strong role of India in the field of space tourism and space diplomacy in the coming times. India’s space companies become global, we have global space company, it will be a matter of pride for the whole country.

comrades, 

There are infinite possibilities in our country, but infinite possibilities can never be realized with limited efforts. I assure you, the soldiers of the country, I want to assure the youth of scientific temperament, risk taking ability that this process of reforms in the space sector will continue uninterruptedly. A strong mechanism has been made for the needs of the private sector to be heard, understood, business possibilities assessed. INSPACE will work in this direction as a single window independent nodal agency to meet all the needs of the private sector. India is also working on a new Indian space policy to move forward in harmony with government companies, the space industry, startups and institutes. We are also going to come up with a policy soon to promote ease of doing business in the space sector. 

comrades,

The future of humanity, its development, are the two areas that are going to be the most effective in the coming days, the sooner we explore it, the more we progress in this competition of the world without delay, we will also be able to lead the circumstances. We can control it and those are two areas – one is space, the other is sea ocean, they are going to become a very big power and today we are trying to address them all through policies and help the youth of the country. You are encouraged to join. The curiosity that our youth, especially the students have for space, is a great force for the development of India’s space industry. Therefore, it is our endeavor to continuously introduce the students to the subjects related to space in the thousands of Atal Tinkering Labs built in the country. Keep them updated. I would also urge the schools and colleges of the country to tell their students about Indian institutions and companies related to space, to visit their labs. The way the number of Indian private companies is increasing continuously in this sector, it is also going to help them. You will note that earlier in India, I don’t know why it was so, but it was, before I got this responsibility, the situation was that when the satellite was launched, no one had entry in that whole area and we like Leaders are people, like VIPs, 12-15 people were invited there and it was shown that the satellite was being launched and we were also watching with great enthusiasm. But my thinking is different, my way of working is different, so I went there for the first time as prime minister, so we took a decision, we have seen that there is interest in the students of the country, There is curiosity and keeping in mind that from where our satellites are launched that in Sriharikota we have created a huge launch viewing gallery to see when the satellite goes and any citizen can visit any school. Student can also watch this program and the seating arrangement is also not small. Arrangements have been made so that 10 thousand people can sit and watch this satellite launch. Things seem small but it is having a huge impact on the life of India. It has been managed. Things seem small but it is having a huge impact on the life of India. It has been managed. Things seem small but it is having a huge impact on the life of India. 

comrades,

The INSPACE Headquarters is being inaugurated today, becoming a kind of center of activity. I am also happy that Gujarat is becoming the center of large institutions of national and international level in different sectors. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Bhupendra Bhai and his entire team, to all our colleagues of Gujarat government for supporting proactive policies for this initiative. And you know that just a few weeks ago the work of WHO’s Global Center for Traditional Medicine has started in Jamnagar. National Defense University, National Law University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, National Forensic Science University, National Innovation Foundation, Children’s University, How many National Institutes are there in the vicinity. Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics – ie BISAG, its establishment has become an inspiration for other states of the country as well. Now IN-SPACE among these big institutions will also increase the identity of this place. I urge the youth of the country, especially the youth of Gujarat, to take full advantage of these wonderful Indian institutions. I am sure that with your active role, India will scale new heights in the space sector. And on this auspicious occasion of today, especially the private sector which has participated with enthusiasm, the youth who came forward with new spirits, new resolutions, I also congratulate them and give my best wishes. I wish many good wishes to all the scientists of ISRO and also to the entire team of ISRO, thank you very much. And I believe Goenka has been a very successful personality in the private sector, Under his leadership, INSPACE will move ahead with the ability to fulfill the dream which is ours in true sense. With these expectations, along with many many wishes, I thank you very much!