India’s space industry is set to soar, with projections estimating its value could reach $40 to $45 billion within the next decade, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to open the sector to private enterprises as a defining moment that triggered this “miraculous transformation.”
In a recent interview, Singh emphasized how the inclusion of private players over the last few years has attracted massive investments and unlocked new potential for innovation and growth. “Thousands of crores are being invested by private firms, something unimaginable a few years ago,” he noted.
He hailed the Prime Minister’s leadership, calling the decision courageous and visionary—something only a government with strong conviction could accomplish. “This was a bold reform that catalyzed India’s emergence as a global space power,” Singh added.
As India ramps up its space ambitions, Singh pointed to the current Axiom-4 mission as a bridge to future milestones. Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, now aboard the International Space Station, will conduct seven key experiments developed by Indian institutes. Singh believes these experiments will provide valuable data and experience ahead of major missions like Chandrayaan-4 and the Bharat Space Station, which is targeted for launch by 2035.
Prime Minister Modi also celebrated the Axiom-4 mission, describing it as a proud moment for the nation. In a post on X, he highlighted that Group Captain Shukla, now the first Indian astronaut on the ISS, carries with him the dreams and aspirations of 1.4 billion citizens. “We wish him and the entire international crew great success,” Modi wrote.
Following the successful lift-off of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Singh also took to X to congratulate Shukla and reinforce India’s rise as a “Viksit Bharat” or developed nation through space achievements.
He acknowledged India’s legendary space pioneers, Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan, for laying the foundation of a journey that has now entered a new phase. With India’s global partnerships deepening and private sector engagement increasing, the country’s space story is being rewritten—one launch at a time.
