The Indian space and telecom industries are gearing up for a new era of growth and innovation under the newly formed Indian government likely to be led by Narendra Modi. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), highlighted the pivotal role played by the government’s 2020 decision to allow private sector participation in the space industry. This move by the Indian Government, he noted, was a crucial stepping stone towards boosting India’s space economy.
“In 2020, the government’s radical step to enable private player participation in the space industry marked the beginning of India’s historic journey towards a thriving space economy,” said Lt Gen Bhatt. “With the new government in place, the private industry in India is excited about future prospects. This will provide unique leverage for Indian startups and companies to innovate and excel in the emerging space landscape.”
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To establish a strong foundation for India’s growing space industry, several initiatives have been launched, including the new Space Policy, the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), and reforms such as new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regulations. These measures have given the industry a much-needed kickstart.
“We look forward to the continuation of policy reforms and further efforts to eliminate existing bottlenecks,” added Lt Gen Bhatt. “This will enable the private space sector to take on more responsibility in building and supporting India’s contribution to the global space economy.”
In the same vein, Agendra Kumar, managing director, Esri India, said: “Hearty congratulations to Shri Narendra Modi ji on winning the third term for NDA and returning as the prime minister. For the country, this continuity will promise stability, consistency, and effectiveness in governance, taking India closer to Vision@2047. Technological progress and innovation have been key areas of focus for Mr Modi. We can expect the use of satellite imaging, GIS, GeoAI and digital twins to support the developmental initiatives of the government for both, urban and rural economies.”
The enthusiasm for policy continuity and reform has also been shared by the telecom sector. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) also welcomed the new government, anticipating a positive impact on the telecom industry. Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, emphasized the importance of continued growth and policy stability.
“COAI welcomes the formation of the new government, which will steer the next phase of growth and strengthen policy continuity and reforms,” said Lt Gen Dr Kochhar. “The previous government was instrumental in implementing critical structural reforms for the telecom industry, a lifeline for the digital economy. We look forward to working with the new government and all stakeholders to fulfill our nation’s aspirations and work towards building a digital society that will pave the way for a developed Bharat.”
