Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA), a premier industry association of space and satellite companies, on Monday, October 11 through a virtual ceremony. The Indian Space Association, which was first proposed by PM Modi in December 2020, aims to be the collective voice of the Indian space industry, a press release by the Prime Minster’s office stated.
During his address at the virtual inaugural event of ISpA, Prime Minister Modi declared that the day marked a new flight for Indian Space. Elaborating on the government’s decision to welcome private players in the aerospace sector, he stated, “For 75 years, Indian Space was controlled by the Indian government and organisations. Indian scientists have reached new milestones. But the need of the hour is that the space sector should be made open for all talents, be it the private sector or the government sector.”
He further added that in today’s world, where Information Technology is being superseded by the Space Age, the privatised model of the Indian Space Association will help drive the growth of the space industry in India and carry the sector forward successfully.
The Indian Space Association’s members are a cluster of companies involved in the sector of space and satellites and include OneWeb, Bharti Airtel, Mapmyindia, Walchandnagar Industries, and Ananth Technology Limited among others, as its founding members. The ISpA will work in tandem with the Indian Space Research Organisation to develop and implement policies related to space technology and focus on capacity building and space economic hubs in India.
Calling it yet another initiative to push the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme launched by the Modi Government, The PM stated in his address that In-Space will help to boost the private space area in the country, leading to more accurate forecast for farmers and fishermen and improve forecasting of natural disasters.
He also asserted that the government will play an enabling role in the growth and development of the space sector in the country while the private players will be given freedom for bringing innovation to the privatised sector.
