PM Modi Calls for Peaceful, Sustainable Space Cooperation

• PM Modi said the “promise of space is infinite” and called responsibility for its future collective.
• He advocated cooperation over confrontation and sustainability over short-term gains.
• India backed a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain anchored in international law.
• PM outlined India’s goals of an indigenous space station by 2035 and an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.

GG News Bureau
Paris, 10th Sept: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the International Space Summit in Paris, France, through video conference on Thursday, calling for stronger global cooperation to ensure a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain.

Thanking French President Emmanuel Macron for initiating the summit and inviting India, Modi said space is increasingly shaping life on Earth, influencing areas ranging from climate and agriculture to oceans and communities.

“The promise of space is infinite, and our responsibility is collective,” the Prime Minister said, stressing that the growing number of actors, increasingly crowded orbits and powerful technologies require a shared approach to long-term sustainability.

He called for clear choices in the development and use of space, saying “cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion” should guide international efforts.

Linking India’s approach to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Modi said India supports a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain based on international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. He also stressed that scientific data should be shared openly and with integrity for the common good.

Highlighting India’s space programme, Modi said satellite technologies are delivering practical benefits in weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation, including for farmers and fishermen. He praised ISRO for its excellence and cost-effective missions and said its technologies and partnerships serve India as well as the wider world.

The Prime Minister said Indian rockets have successfully deployed more than 430 payloads from 34 countries, reflecting the international reach of India’s space capabilities.

Recalling key achievements, Modi highlighted Aditya-L1’s solar studies and Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing near the lunar south pole. He also referred to an Indian astronaut’s visit to the International Space Station last year.

Outlining India’s future ambitions, Modi said the country plans to establish an indigenous space station by 2035 and send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. He stressed that the benefits of India’s space efforts should reach humanity as a whole.

Modi also highlighted the rapid growth of India’s private space sector, noting the emerging partnership between startups and established institutions. He said the energy of private enterprise is increasingly complementing ISRO’s institutional capabilities.

The Prime Minister described France as a trusted partner in India’s space journey, recalling cooperation since the early years of India’s space programme at Thumba in the 1960s. He said current collaboration spans Earth observation and advanced technologies, combining scientific research with societal applications.

Inviting France and other countries to participate in India’s future space missions, Modi called for collective efforts to explore, innovate and protect the space environment.

He concluded by urging the international community to make the Paris Space Summit a platform for a shared commitment to explore together, innovate together and protect space together for present and future generations.