Take advantage of space sector opportunities: PM Narendra Modi to startups

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged startups to take full advantage of growing opportunities in the Indian space sector.

In his monthly radio broadcast "Mann Ki Baat", Modi said that Indian industries and startups are engaged in bringing innovations and new technologies in this field. In particular, the collaboration of IN-SPACe is going to make a big difference in this area.

"Non-government companies are also getting the facility to launch their payloads and satellites through IN-SPACe. I would urge more and more start-ups and innovators to take full advantage of these huge opportunities being created in India in the space sector," he said. In June 2020, the Government opened up the space sector to enable the participation of the Indian private sector in the entire gamut of space activities.

To facilitate private sector participation, the Government created the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), as a single-window, independent, nodal agency which functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS). It is a single-window agency for all space sector activities of private entities.

"Earlier in India, the space sector was confined within the purview of government systems. Ever since the space sector has opened for India's youth, revolutionary changes have started coming into it," Modi noted further in his address.

"I also remember those old days, when India was denied cryogenic rocket technology. But the scientists of India not only developed indigenous technology but today with the help of it, dozens of satellites are being sent to space simultaneously," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the feat of placing 36 satellites in space simultaneously on October 23, Modi said that with this launch, India has emerged as a strong player in the global commercial market.

Terracotta tea cups, Tripura's bio village mentioned

Emphasizing an eco-friendly lifestyle and nature conservation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that sensitivity towards the environment is inherent to Indian society.

Prime Minister said, "Sensitivity towards the environment is embedded in every particle of our society and we can feel it all around us. There is no dearth of people in the country who spend a lifetime in the protection of the environment." Prime Minister mentioned Tripura's Bio Village which emphasizes how to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters and improve the quality of life of the people through various measures.

He said, "You must have heard about Bio-Village, but some villages of Tripura have ascended to the level of Bio-Village 2. There is a complete focus on solar energy, biogas, beekeeping and biofertilizers. Overall, Bio-Village 2 is going to lend a lot of strength to the campaign against climate change."

He further said today more awareness is being seen among people about eco-friendly living and eco-friendly products than ever before.

PM Modi shared the story of a team of tribal women in Anaikatti, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. These women crafted 10,000 eco-friendly terracotta tea cups for export. "The amazing thing is that these women themselves took up the entire responsibility of making the terracotta tea cups. From clay mixing to final packaging, they did all the work themselves," he said.

PM Modi then mentioned an environmentalist from Bengaluru Suresh Kumar. PM said Kumar had taken the initiative to rejuvenate a forest of Sahakarnagar in the city 20 years ago and saplings planted then have now grown into 40 feet tall huge trees.

"Suresh Kumar ji also does another wonderful job. He has also built a bus shelter in Sahakarnagar to promote the Kannada language and culture. He has also presented brass plates written in Kannada to hundreds of people. If both Ecology and Culture grow together and flourish..., just imagine how great it would be!" PM said.

Prime Minister said that he is very happy to see the increasing enthusiasm for environmental protection in different parts of the country.

Referring to Mission Life which has been launched recently, PM Modi said the simple principle of Mission Life is - Promote a lifestyle, which does not harm the environment. (Agencies)

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