PM Narendra Modi Urges Space Startups to Make India a Global Hub for Talent and Innovation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on India’s private space companies to help make the country a preferred destination for global space talent, highlighting its cost competitiveness, skilled workforce and growing culture of risk-taking. During an interaction with the founders and CEOs of 20 space startups, Modi also assured the industry of continued government support and stressed the importance of policy consistency.

Focus on Attracting Global Talent

Modi said India should build an environment where professionals from around the world see the country as a place to develop careers in the space sector. The Prime Minister noted that Indians who had moved to countries such as the US and those in Europe were increasingly considering returning to work in India. He said Indian startups and space agencies could play a key role in attracting both returning professionals and international talent. National Space Day 2026: PM Narendra Modi Hails India’s Space Rise, Says Gen Z, Private Sector Driving New Technologies.

He also pointed to India’s relatively lower costs and its talent pool as important advantages that could help the country strengthen its position in the global space industry.

Policy Stability Seen as Key

During the interaction, Modi emphasised the importance of maintaining consistency in government policies to give entrepreneurs greater confidence to invest and take risks. He said entrepreneurs entering the space sector had placed their trust in the government and that predictable policies were important for sustaining that confidence.

The remarks come as private companies increasingly take on roles across launch vehicles, satellites, space-based data and other technologies that were traditionally dominated by government institutions. One Day, One University: What PM Modi Government’s New Gen Z Outreach Plan Means.

Startups Plan Faster Launches

The startup founders briefed Modi on the sector’s growth, including rising investor confidence, international contracts and plans to significantly increase launch capacity.

Skyroot Aerospace, described by India Today as India’s first space-tech unicorn, told the Prime Minister that its manufacturing facilities had the capacity to produce one rocket a month. The company aims to reach one launch every month by mid-2027, with longer-term plans to move towards weekly launches and eventually several launches a day.

The founders also discussed plans to establish a global ground-station network over the next 18 months. Another startup CEO said the company had secured eight launch contracts in the previous month, with most of the contracts coming from international customers.

Government Push for Wider Space Applications

Modi urged private space companies to expand the use of space technology beyond traditional aerospace applications. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he encouraged startups to explore applications in agriculture, livestock management, dairy, environmental monitoring and other areas that directly affect everyday life. He also called for greater cooperation between space companies and other sectors.

The government’s broader objective is to strengthen the private space ecosystem while increasing the commercial and practical use of space technologies.

20 Space Startups Take Part

The interaction included representatives from Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, GalaxEye, PierSight, Bellatrix Aerospace, Digantara, SatSure, Suhora Technologies, Manastu Space, Astrobase, TakeMe2Space, VyomIC, Cosmoserve Space, OrbitAID Aerospace, SkyServe, Serendipity Space, Vassar Labs and mistEO.

The meeting was held around National Space Day, observed on August 23 to mark the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander on the Moon on August 23, 2023. The government’s engagement with private space companies reflects India’s growing effort to build a commercially competitive space industry alongside the capabilities of ISRO.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2026 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).