Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated COSMOS-Mysuru and outlined Isro's citizen-focused applications. His remarks linked India's expanding space capabilities with public benefit and scientific opportunity.The Prime Minister also highlighted India's growing human spaceflight capabilities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted India's rapid progress in astronomy, astrophysics and space technology, emphasising that scientific advancements and space exploration must ultimately serve humanity.Speaking in Mysuru after inaugurating COSMOS-Mysuru, India's first LED Dome Planetarium, Modi said India's space programme has consistently focused on improving the lives of its people."Humanity first" has been the guiding principle of India's space missions, the Prime Minister said, pointing to how satellite technology is being used for applications ranging from disaster warnings to railway operations and public safety.Highlighting India's achievements in space, Modi said the country has made rapid progress in astronomy and astrophysics, with new telescopes being installed and ambitious scientific missions expanding its capabilities. PM Modi watch a visual at the newly inaugurated Mysore planetarium.
He cited Chandrayaan-3's historic landing near the Moon's south pole, the Aditya-L1 mission becoming India's first dedicated space-based solar observatory and ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), which demonstrated docking and undocking capabilities and made India the fourth country to achieve the feat.The Prime Minister also highlighted India's growing human spaceflight capabilities, noting that an Indian astronaut had travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) and conducted experiments that would contribute to the country's Gaganyaan programme.SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYDAY LIFE Modi stressed that India's space programme was not limited to scientific exploration but was also delivering practical benefits to citizens.He pointed to the use of satellite technology in providing fishermen with alerts about approaching cyclones and tracking their movements, helping improve maritime safety.Satellite-based systems are also being used to track trains in real time, through collaboration between ISRO and Indian Railways, improving railway operations and passenger information services.The Prime Minister said these applications demonstrated how investments in advanced space technology could translate into tangible public benefits.PRIVATE SECTOR AND YOUNG INNOVATORS TAKE CENTRE STAGEModi also highlighted the opening up of India's space sector to private participation, saying it had created new opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups and young innovators.Young Indians are now developing rockets, building satellites and working on technologies that were previously largely restricted to government space agencies.He also underlined the importance of nurturing scientific curiosity among school students through initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs, which encourage innovation and hands-on experimentation.The Prime Minister further referred to the One Nation One Subscription initiative, which aims to provide students, researchers and academic institutions access to international research journals and scientific publications.Modi said expanding access to scientific knowledge and research infrastructure was essential to building India's future innovation ecosystem.His remarks reinforced the broader message that India's expanding scientific and space capabilities must translate into opportunities, knowledge and solutions for society.- Ends