My colleague in the Cabinet, Shri G. Kishan Reddy ji; Andhra Pradesh’s Industry Minister, Shri T. G. Bharat ji; IN-SPACe Chairman, Shri Pawan Goenka ji; the Skyroot team; other dignitaries; ladies and gentlemen!
Friends,
Today, the country is witnessing an unprecedented opportunity in the space sector. Today, the private sector is taking a giant leap in Bharat’s space ecosystem. Skyroot’s Infinity Campus reflects Bharat’s new thinking, innovation, and above all, youth power. The innovation, risk-taking ability, and entrepreneurship of our young people are reaching new heights today. And today’s event is a reflection of the fact that Bharat will emerge as a leader in the global satellite launch ecosystem in the coming times. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. Both of you are a great inspiration for many young space entrepreneurs and for every youth in the country. You trusted yourselves, you did not hesitate to take risks. And today the whole nation is seeing the result of that. The country is proud of you.
Friends,
Bharat’s space journey began with very limited resources. But our ambitions were never limited. There was a time when we transported rocket parts on a bicycle, and today Bharat has proved that the height of dreams is determined not by resources, but by resolve. ISRO has given new wings to Bharat’s space journey for decades. Bharat has created a unique identity for itself in credibility, capacity, and value.
Friends,
We all know how rapidly the space sector is expanding in these changing times. It has become the foundation of communication, agriculture, marine monitoring, urban planning, weather prediction, and national security. That is why we carried out historic reforms in Bharat’s space sector. The government opened the space sector to private innovation and drafted a new Space Policy. We attempted to connect startups and industry with innovation. We established IN-SPACe and provided ISRO’s facilities and technology to our startups. In the last 6-7 years, Bharat has transformed its space sector into an open, cooperative, and innovation-driven ecosystem. Today’s event gives us a glimpse of this, and fills us with pride.
Friends,
Bharat’s youth always places national interest above everything else. They make the best use of every opportunity. When the government opened the space sector, our youth, especially our Gen-Z youth, came forward to take full advantage of it. Today, more than 300 space startups in Bharat are giving new hope to the future of Bharat’s space journey. And what’s special is that most of our space startups began with very small teams. And I have had the opportunity to meet many of them over the last 5-6 years. Sometimes there were just two people, sometimes five colleagues, sharing a small rented room. The teams were small, resources limited, but their ambitions soared high. This is the spirit that has given birth to Bharat’s Private Space Revolution. Today, Gen-Z engineers, Gen-Z designers, Gen-Z coders, and Gen-Z scientists are creating new technologies. Whether it is propulsion systems, composite materials, rocket stages, or satellite platforms, Bharat’s youth is working in areas that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Bharat’s private space talent is establishing a distinct identity across the world. Today, Bharat’s space sector is becoming an attractive destination for global investors.
Friends,
Today, the demand for small satellites is continuously increasing around the world. Launch frequencies are rising, and new companies are entering the satellite services space. And space has now established itself as a strategic asset. Therefore, the global space economy is going to multiply in the coming years. This is a huge opportunity for the youth of Bharat.
Friends,
The capability Bharat has in the space sector is possessed by only a few countries in the world. We have expert engineers, a high-quality manufacturing ecosystem, world-class launch sites, and a mindset that encourages innovation. Bharat’s space capability is both cost-effective and reliable. This is why the world has very high expectations from Bharat. Global companies want to manufacture satellites in Bharat, want to take launch services from Bharat, and want technology partnerships with Bharat. Therefore, we must make the most of this moment.
Friends,
The changes we are witnessing in the space sector today are part of the startup revolution happening in Bharat. Over the past decade, a new wave of startups has emerged in various sectors. Whether it is FinTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, ClimateTech, EduTech, or DefenceTech, Bharat’s youth, our Gen-Z, is providing new solutions in every field. And today, I can confidently tell the Gen-Z of the world that if they want true inspiration, they can find it from Bharat’s Gen-Z. The creativity of Bharat’s Gen-Z, their positive mindset, and their capacity building can become a model for Gen-Z across the world. Today, Bharat has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. There was a time when startups were restricted only to a few big cities. But today, startups are emerging from even the smallest towns and villages of Bharat. Today, there are more than 1.5 lakh registered startups in the country, and many have become unicorns.
Friends,
Today, Bharat is not limited to apps and services alone. We are rapidly moving toward deep-tech, manufacturing, and hardware innovation—thanks to Gen-Z. Take the semiconductor sector, for example. The historic steps taken by the government are strengthening the foundation of Bharat's tech future. Semiconductor fabrication units, chip manufacturing, and design hubs are developing rapidly in the country. From chips to complete systems, Bharat is building a strong electronics value chain. This is part of our resolve for self-reliance, and it will also make Bharat a strong and reliable pillar of the global supply chain.
Friends,
The scope of our reforms is continuously expanding. Just as we opened space innovation to the private sector, we are now taking steps in another very important sector. We are moving toward opening the nuclear sector as well. We are laying the foundation for a strong role for the private sector in this field too. This will create opportunities in small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and nuclear innovation. This reform will give new strength to our energy security and technological leadership.
Friends,
What the future will look like depends greatly on the research being done today. That is why our government is strongly focused on giving maximum research opportunities to the youth. We have established the National Research Foundation, which supports young people in modern research. “One Nation, One Subscription” has made access to international journals easier for all students. The 1 lakh crore rupee Research, Development and Innovation Fund will greatly help youth across the country. We have also launched more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, which are inspiring a spirit of research and innovation among students. We are working to set up 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs in the near future. These efforts by the government are building the foundation for new innovations in Bharat.
Friends,
The coming era belongs to Bharat, to Bharat’s youth, and to Bharat’s innovations. A few months ago, I spoke about our space aspirations on the occasion of Space Day. We had resolved that Bharat will take its launch capacity to new heights in the next five years. We had also decided that five new unicorns will emerge from Bharat’s space sector. Seeing the way Skyroot’s team is progressing, it is certain that Bharat will achieve all its goals.
Friends,
I assure every young Indian, every startup, scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur, and my young friends and this is my guarantee: the government stands with you at every step. Once again, I extend my heartiest congratulations to the entire Skyroot team. I also convey my best wishes to all those who are giving new momentum to Bharat’s space journey. Come, let us make the 21st century the century of Bharat, both on earth and in space. Thank you all very much. Warmest wishes to you!
