Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the International Space Summit in Paris, France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris on September 10, 2026, marks a watershed moment in India's space diplomacy and its emergence as a major space power. This summit, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, represents the first dedicated high-level international forum focused exclusively on space governance, sustainability, and cooperation — reflecting the growing recognition that outer space is no longer the preserve of a few superpowers but a congested, contested, and competitive domain requiring collective stewardship. The historical context is critical: when India launched its first sounding rocket from Thumba in 1963, it was a nascent program dependent on foreign assistance, with France among its earliest partners providing critical technology transfers for the Viking and later Ariane launch vehicles. Six decades later, India stands as the fourth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing and the first to land near the lunar south pole with Chandrayaan-3 (August 23, 2023), operates the Aditya-L1 solar observatory at the Sun-Earth L1 point since January 2024, and has launched over 430 foreign satellites from 34 countries — a commercial and diplomatic achievement that generates revenue while strengthening South-South cooperation. The stakes are exceptionally high. With over 9,000 active satellites orbiting Earth as of 2026 and mega-constellations like Starlink and OneWeb adding thousands more, the risks of collision, space debris proliferation (Kessler Syndrome), and militarization are escalating. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, while foundational, lacks enforcement mechanisms for modern challenges like anti-satellite weapons (ASAT), on-orbit servicing, and resource extraction. India's advocacy for "cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion" — grounded in the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Article 51 of the Constitution directs the State to promote international peace and security) — positions it as a normative bridge between the Global North's technological dominance and the Global South's developmental aspirations. This aligns with India's 2023 Space Policy, which explicitly encourages private sector participation (IN-SPACe established 2020) and international partnerships. Economically, India's space sector — valued at $8.4 billion in 2023 with a target of $44 billion by 2033 — is a strategic multiplier. Satellite-based services underpin digital public infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, PM-KISAN), disaster management (cyclone tracking saves thousands annually), and agricultural productivity (NAVIC navigation aids fishermen and farmers). The announced indigenous space station (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by 2035 and crewed lunar mission by 2040 are not merely prestige projects; they will catalyze advanced materials, life-support systems, robotics, and AI — technologies with terrestrial spillovers in healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. Politically, these milestones reinforce India's claim for a permanent UN Security Council seat and leadership in forums like the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Looking ahead, the success of India's space station will depend on mastering heavy-lift launchers (SSLV, future reusable vehicles), human-rating Gaganyaan (first crewed flight targeted 2025), and developing closed-loop life support — all while navigating technology denial regimes. The Paris Summit's legacy may well be measured by whether it produces a new multilateral framework for space traffic management, debris mitigation standards, and equitable access to orbital slots and lunar resources — where India's voice, backed by demonstrated capability and philosophical inclusivity, will be indispensable.