Chandigarh, Aug 17 (PTI) Punjab’s Chandigarh University (CU) on Monday brought together the country’s leading scientists and other experts at the National Space Technology Conclave (NSTC) 2026 to deliberate on the emerging technologies and capabilities that will shape India’s next generation of space missions.
The event was organised by CU’s Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology (KCC) in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), a CU release said.
The two-day conclave features participation of 30 distinguished scientists, mission leaders and technologists from ISRO, IIST, 10 CEOs and leaders from leading Indian space industries and start-ups, it said.
Speaking at the event, Dr Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, said that while ISRO did a great job and made India a super space power, we were not “self-sufficient and more than 70 per cent of our demand was met through outsourcing.” Keeping this in mind, he said, the Narendra Modi government “opened the space sector for private participation in June 2020, with the objective that space technology should reach the last person under the vision of Antyodaya.” Since then, Kumar said, there has been a boom in the private space ecosystem, with 450-plus space start-ups.
“The Indian Space Policy 2023 clearly defined the roles of ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL and non-government entities, while the national vision is to build a strong, globally competitive and commercially vibrant space sector in the coming years,” he said, according to the release.
Dr YVN Krishnamurthy, a former Scientific Secretary of ISRO, said that the strength of India’s space programme is not just in launching satellites, but in developing cost-effective solutions, extending satellite life and using space technology for societal benefit.
He said that the prime minister’s opening up of the space sector has created “tremendous opportunities” for young people, innovators and start-ups.
Nilesh M Desai, a former Director of Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, said that opening up of the field was envisaged to encourage the private sector to play a bigger role in the Indian space activities.
Prof Eswar Sunkara, Senior Director, Kalpana Chawla Centre, Chandigarh University, announced the Chandigarh University Declaration on Space Technology for Viksit Bharat 2047.
The declaration, she said, will bring together the perspectives of leading space scientists, institutional leaders and academia to strengthen space technology education, research, innovation, skill development and industry collaboration. PTI SUN VN VN
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