India’s space programme, a people’s space journey, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• In June 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla displayed the Tricolour on the International Space Station (ISS).
• Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023.
• India has launched over 400 foreign satellites.
• The space budget has nearly tripled from ₹5,615 crore in 2013-14 to ₹13,416 crore in 2025-26.
• India's space economy is currently valued at $8 billion, and is projected to grow to $44 billion.
• Gaganyaan, with an approved outlay of over ₹20,000 crore, is targeted for 2027.

Detailed Insights:

• India's lunar program has been path-breaking, with Chandrayaan-1 confirming the presence of water molecules, Chandrayaan-2 mapping the moon with high precision, and Chandrayaan-3 achieving the world’s first soft landing near the south pole.
• India's space roadmap includes continuation of the Gaganyaan programme, Chandrayaan-4 and 5, a dedicated Venus mission, a Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035, and an Indian human landing on the Moon by 2040.
• Space technology is integrated into governance and daily life, providing disaster warnings, guiding fishermen, assessing crop yields, enhancing railway safety, and powering the geospatial backbone of the PM Gati Shakti programme.
• The opening of the space sector to private players has created a thriving ecosystem of more than 350 startups building satellites, launch vehicles, and ground systems.
• India is advancing technologies related to semi-cryogenics, electric propulsion, quantum communication and in-orbit servicing with private participation.
• India announced a “G20 satellite” for climate and environmental monitoring with data shared with all nations during its G-20 Presidency in 2023.
• Collaborative missions such as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) and Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) demonstrate India’s rise as a global partner.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Amrit Kaal: Refers to an auspicious time or era, often used to describe India's journey towards growth and prosperity.
• PM Gati Shakti: A national master plan for multi-modal connectivity, aimed at integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects.
• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: A Sanskrit phrase meaning "the world is one family," emphasizing global unity and cooperation.