PM Modi Urges Youth to Join India’s Astronaut Pool, Calls Space Exploration Nation’s New Horizon

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday marked National Space Day with an appeal to India’s youth to join the country’s expanding astronaut pool, stressing that the nation’s future lies “beyond galaxies.” Speaking under the theme “From Aryabhata to Gaganyaan,” Modi highlighted India’s transformation into a global space power and encouraged young citizens to actively participate in shaping the next era of exploration.

The Prime Minister recalled his recent meeting with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who carried the Indian tricolour to the International Space Station (ISS). Calling the gesture a moment of pride for every Indian, Modi said Shukla’s courage embodied the spirit of a “new India” eager to conquer fresh frontiers in science and technology.

Modi underlined that India has become the fourth nation capable of docking and undocking spacecraft in orbit—an achievement that puts the country in an elite global league. He also pointed to India’s advances in semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion systems, technologies crucial for deep-space exploration.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to human spaceflight, Modi said the upcoming Gaganyaan mission would mark a defining moment in India’s scientific journey, to be followed by plans for a dedicated Indian space station. These initiatives, he stressed, will not only demonstrate technological prowess but also strengthen the nation’s role in global collaborations on space research.

Concluding with a visionary call, Modi declared: “Beyond galaxies lies our horizon.” He urged scientists, students, and innovators to dream big and work toward making India a leader in deep-space exploration, framing space as both a strategic frontier and a gateway to humanity’s survival and progress.