India champions safe, sustainable space governance rooted in international law

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored India's commitment to establishing a secure and sustainable space sector guided by international legal frameworks. Addressing the International Space Summit virtually from New Delhi, Modi emphasized that scientific data sharing must be conducted with openness and integrity, serving universal objectives.

"We support a safe and sustainable space domain anchored in international law. Scientific data must serve a common goal with openness and integrity. India's space journey reflects this philosophy," Modi said during the address.

The Prime Minister grounded India's approach in the ancient Sanskrit concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'—translating to "One Earth, One Family, One Future"—and stressed that this philosophy must extend beyond terrestrial boundaries. Modi highlighted space's dual significance, noting that while it has long captured human imagination, it now serves critical purposes in saving lives on Earth through applications ranging from disaster management to climate monitoring.

"The promise of space is infinite. Our responsibility is collective," Modi stated, urging France and other nations to become "co-travellers" in India's space exploration endeavours. The appeal represents India's broader push to build international partnerships in the space sector as it scales up its ambitions in satellite technology, planetary exploration, and space-based services.