Modi calls on space startups to position India as global innovation hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called upon India's space startups to create an attractive ecosystem that would draw international talent and positioning the country as a premier destination for space innovation and research. During an interaction with CEOs and founders from two dozen space ventures, Modi stressed the importance of building momentum around India's private space sector to ensure that global talent considers the country for career opportunities. Modi highlighted India's competitive cost structure as a key advantage in the increasingly crowded commercial space industry, noting that this factor, combined with the nation's deep talent reserves, could accelerate India's rise as a sector leader. The prime minister observed that breakthrough innovations in space technology naturally command worldwide attention, and India should aim to become the focus of such interest as the sector evolves. His remarks come as India has opened its space industry to private sector participation, a move that has begun attracting renewed interest from Indian professionals based in the United States and Europe, according to industry participants present at the interaction. The government's policy shift represents a significant departure from the earlier state-dominated approach, signaling new opportunities for homegrown startups to compete on the global stage.