New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the first International Space Summit in Paris, France, through a video conference, calling for greater global cooperation to ensure a safe, secure, peaceful, and sustainable space domain.
Modi thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for taking the initiative to organise the landmark gathering and for inviting him to participate in the summit, according to an official statement.
Reflecting on humanity’s longstanding fascination with space, Modi said the cosmos has inspired human imagination for centuries, while space technology now plays an important role in everyday life on Earth, including climate monitoring, agriculture, oceans and communities.
He stressed that the growing complexity of the space environment requires countries to work together with a focus on long-term sustainability.
According to Modi, increasingly crowded orbits, more powerful technologies and a growing number of space actors make international cooperation more important. He called for cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gains and inclusion over exclusion.
Linking India’s approach to space with the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, Modi advocated a secure and peaceful space domain anchored in international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
The PM also emphasised the importance of transparency and responsible sharing of scientific information. He said scientific data should serve the common good through openness and integrity.
Highlighting India’s space journey, Modi pointed to the practical benefits of satellite technology in areas such as weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation.
He noted that these capabilities directly benefit communities, including farmers and fishermen.
He praised the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its global reputation for excellence and cost-effective missions, while highlighting India’s international cooperation in launch services.
More than 430 payloads from 34 countries have been deployed aboard Indian rockets, Modi said, underlining the wider global utility of India’s space capabilities and partnerships.
The PM also paid tribute to generations of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians whose dedication and hard work have contributed to ISRO’s global reputation and India’s standing among spacefaring nations.
Recalling major milestones in India’s space programme, Modi said Aditya-L1 is currently studying the Sun and referred to the visit of an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station last year.
He also highlighted Chandrayaan-3’s historic lunar landing, noting that India became the first nation to land near the lunar south pole.
Looking ahead, Modi outlined India’s long-term space ambitions, including plans to establish an indigenous space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
He said the guiding principle behind these efforts remains ensuring that the benefits of space exploration reach all of humanity.
Modi also highlighted the rapid growth of India’s private space sector, noting the emerging synergy between startups and established organisations alongside institutional agencies. He described this development as the energy of enterprise joining the excellence of ISRO.
Highlighting Indo-France space cooperation, Modi recalled that France has been a trusted partner since the inception of India’s space programme at Thumba in the 1960s.
He said current cooperation between the two countries spans Earth observation and advanced technologies, combining scientific research with societal benefits.
Inviting France and other international partners to participate in India’s upcoming exploratory missions, Modi called for global collaboration in the next phase of space exploration.
Concluding his address, the PM urged the international community to work together to explore, innovate and protect the space environment for humanity and future generations.
