PM Modi calls for bigger dreams, innovation on National Space Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to the country on National Space Day, calling on Indians to aim higher, accelerate innovation and explore new frontiers as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the global space sector.

In a message shared on social media, Modi said National Space Day was an occasion to celebrate India’s achievements while looking towards more ambitious goals. “Happy National Space Day! Here’s to dreaming even bigger, innovating more and pushing newer frontiers…,” he said.

National Space Day is observed on August 23 to commemorate the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s successful soft landing near the Moon’s south polar region on this day in 2023. India became the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first to reach the lunar south polar region.

Space key to Viksit Bharat goal

In a video message marking the occasion, Modi linked the growth of India’s space programme with the country’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

He said India was steadily expanding its presence in the global space ecosystem and pointed to the increasing contribution of private companies and young innovators. The space sector, he said, would have an important role in India's long-term development.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the work being undertaken by a new generation of engineers, designers, coders and scientists. Young Indians, he said, were now developing technologies in areas ranging from propulsion systems and composite materials to rocket stages and satellite platforms.

Modi said the achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation had also inspired children across the country to consider careers in science and space research.

Private sector gains momentum

The Prime Minister highlighted the growing presence of private companies in India’s space programme, saying Indian space talent was increasingly establishing itself internationally. He also described the sector as an emerging destination for global investment.

His National Space Day message came days after he interacted with founders and chief executives of 20 Indian space startups in New Delhi. During the meeting, Modi urged entrepreneurs to expand the use of space technology beyond missions and satellites and develop applications capable of improving everyday life.

He particularly encouraged greater use of space-based technologies in agriculture, livestock management, dairy, environmental protection and disaster-related applications. Companies working on agricultural technology were encouraged to collaborate with universities and government agencies to develop solutions useful to farmers.

Remembering Chandrayaan-3

The observance of National Space Day is rooted in one of the most significant moments in India’s space programme. On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully touched down near the lunar south pole before deploying the Pragyan rover.

The achievement placed India alongside the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union and China as countries to have successfully carried out a soft landing on the Moon, while giving India the distinction of becoming the first nation to reach the lunar south polar region.

The 2026 National Space Day celebrations are being held under the theme “Towards Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership”, reflecting the focus on technological development, partnerships and India's ambitions in the international space economy.