Text of PM’s remarks at the International Space Summit in Paris via VC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris marks a defining moment in India's space diplomacy and strategic positioning on the global stage. Held in the historic French capital — a hub of European space activity through CNES and ESA — the summit brought together leading spacefaring nations to deliberate on the future of outer space governance. The Prime Minister's participation via video conference underscores India's growing stature as a responsible space power committed to multilateralism, sustainability, and inclusive development. The philosophical anchor of his speech — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ("One Earth, One Family, One Future") — is not merely rhetorical; it reflects a civilizational ethos now formally embedded in India's G20 presidency theme (2023) and its broader foreign policy framework. This principle finds resonance in Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, which directs the State to "promote international peace and security" and "foster respect for international law and treaty obligations" — a constitutional mandate that extends to the peaceful uses of outer space under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, to which India is a founding signatory. Historically, India's space journey began modestly at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 with the launch of a Nike-Apache sounding rocket — a project supported by France, the United States, and the Soviet Union. This early international collaboration laid the foundation for a self-reliant yet globally engaged space programme. Over six decades, ISRO has evolved into a world-class agency known for cost-effective, high-reliability missions. The launch of over 430 satellites from 34 countries aboard Indian launch vehicles (PSLV, GSLV, LVM3) demonstrates India's role as a trusted launch service provider, generating commercial revenue through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) while strengthening diplomatic ties. The Chandrayaan-3 mission (August 2023) made India the first nation to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole — a region of immense scientific and strategic interest due to potential water ice deposits. Simultaneously, Aditya-L1 (launched September 2023) positioned India as a key player in solar physics, studying the Sun from the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point. In 2024, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Indian Air Force) is slated to fly to the International Space Station under the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4), marking the first Indian government-sponsored human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma's 1984 Soyuz T-11 mission — a milestone under the Gaganyaan programme. The announced goals — an Indian space station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station) by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040 — signal a paradigm shift from application-driven missions to sustained human presence and deep space exploration. These ambitions align with the Indian Space Policy 2023, which encourages private sector participation through IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre), fostering innovation, investment, and job creation. The private space ecosystem — now comprising over 200 startups — is developing launch vehicles (e.g., Skyroot, Agnikul), satellites, and downstream applications, contributing to the vision of a $100 billion space economy by 2040. India-France cooperation remains a cornerstone: from the Viking engine technology transfer for the Vikas engine in the 1970s to joint missions like Megha-Tropiques (2011) and TRISHNA (planned 2025) for climate monitoring, the partnership blends scientific excellence with developmental priorities. At the summit, Modi's call for "cooperation over confrontation" and "sustainability over short-term gain" directly addresses rising concerns over space debris, anti-satellite (ASAT) weaponization, and orbital congestion — issues where India, having conducted Mission Shakti (ASAT test, 2019), bears both responsibility and credibility to lead normative frameworks. Economically, space technologies already empower millions: NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) supports fishermen, farmers, and disaster response; remote sensing aids crop insurance (PMFBY), groundwater mapping (Jal Jeevan Mission), and infrastructure planning (PM Gati Shakti). Politically, space achievements enhance India's soft power, reinforce its claim for a permanent UNSC seat, and deepen strategic partnerships with the Quad (US, Japan, Australia), EU, and Global South. Socially, they inspire STEM education and national pride. Looking ahead, India must navigate dual-use technology controls, spectrum allocation for satellite broadband (e.g., OneWeb, Jio-SES), and the legal regime for lunar resource utilization under the Artemis Accords (which India joined in 2023) versus the Moon Agreement. The Paris Summit thus represents not just a diplomatic event but a declaration of intent: India seeks to shape the rules of the final frontier — not merely participate in them — ensuring that the benefits of space, as Modi affirmed, "reach all humanity."