PM Modi meets space startup CEOs as India’s private space sector expands

During the interaction, Modi said the government’s consistent policies aimed at giving entrepreneurs the confidence to take risks and invest in new areas.

“One of the most important things is that you trusted the government’s word,” Modi said, emphasising the need for policy consistency so entrepreneurs can take risks without fearing that government support would be withdrawn.

The CEOs highlighted developments across India’s private space sector, including launch vehicles, satellite propulsion, in-space manufacturing, orbital servicing, and space-based agriculture applications.

A Skyroot Aerospace CEO told Modi that the company, described as India’s first space-tech unicorn, successfully launched a private rocket on July 18 and is targeting one launch per month by the middle of next year.

The company has already established three factories and aims eventually to conduct one launch a week and multiple launches a day.

Another CEO said the company had developed a modern rocket engine that is currently undergoing testing. The executive added that investor confidence had increased following Skyroot’s first launch.

The CEOs also highlighted growing interest among Indian professionals working overseas in returning to India following the opening of the space sector to private companies.

Modi said India should create an environment capable of attracting global talent, describing the country’s startup and space ecosystem as a potential “magnet” for skilled professionals from around the world.

The interaction also featured startups working on satellite propulsion systems, orbital debris removal, and in-space refuelling.

One company showcased a robotic spacecraft designed to capture defunct satellites and remove them from orbit, while another said it was developing docking and refuelling technologies with the long-term goal of establishing a fuel station in space.

A space-pharma startup, meanwhile, said it was developing satellites capable of manufacturing pharmaceutical products in orbit and returning them to Earth.

The CEOs also pointed to growing international demand for Indian space technology. One executive said the company had secured eight launch contracts in the month following a launch, most of them from international customers.

Another startup outlined plans to establish a global ground-station network within 18 months, while a separate company said it was preparing to deploy its technology for 1 million farmers.

Modi said India’s cost competitiveness, skilled workforce, and willingness to take risks could help its private space companies establish a stronger position in the global market.

The interaction comes as India’s private space sector expands beyond satellite launches into areas including propulsion, orbital logistics, space manufacturing, debris removal, and commercial applications.