International Conference on Space 2025  
Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth                                                

Bengaluru, 8-9 September 2025: CII International Conference on Space 2025, organized in collaboration with ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL, and SIDM, convened senior government officials, industry leaders, global partners, and astronauts to discuss the future trajectory of India’s space sector. 

The inaugural session included the felicitation of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Astronaut, ISRO, and Group Captain Prashantha Balakrishnan Nair, ISRO, in recognition of their pioneering contributions to India’s human spaceflight programme. ISRO, IN-SPACe, and NSIL were also honoured for their exemplary role in advancing India’s space achievements.

Held under the theme “Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth,” the two-day conference featured 10 technical sessions, bringing together over 90 distinguished speakers and more than 650 delegates from India and across the world, including Denmark, UAE, Russia, USA, Singapore, and Malaysia.

On this occasion, the CII–KPMG Report on “Propelling India into a New Era of Space and Innovation” was released, providing an overview of recent developments in India's space sector. The publication also outlines this transition and identifies major factors that may influence the future of space-enabled development in India. During the valedictory session, the CII Space Directory highlighting 65 prominent Indian space-tech companies was launched.  

During the inaugural session Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, through his short video message, highlighted the growing stature of India’s space programme, citing Chandrayaan-3 and the NISAR mission as milestone achievements. He noted that the Indian space sector, valued at USD 8.4 billion today, is projected to grow to USD 44 billion by 2033, with exports contributing USD 11 billion. Driven by ISRO, nearly 300 startups, and a dynamic private sector, India’s ecosystem is entering a turning point, moving from scientific achievements to mainstreaming space-based applications in infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, banking, defence, and disaster management.

During his inaugural address, Dr V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO, shared India’s long-term vision to emerge as a leading spacefaring nation by 2040. Key initiatives include Chandrayaan-4 in collaboration with Japan, upcoming Mars and Venus missions, and the planned Bhartiya Space Station by 2035. India currently has 58 satellites in orbit, with plans to triple this number in the next 3–4 years. He also mentioned India’s proposal for a G20 Satellite Mission on Environment and Climate Observation and highlighted ongoing missions such as Aditya-L1 and SpaDex, positioning India among the world’s leading innovators in space technology.

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, AVSM VM. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, HQ Training Command, Indian Air Force outlined the Indian Air Force’s growing reliance on space as an operational domain. He emphasized the role of satellite-enabled data in target tracking, ISR, and post-strike assessments, and announced plans to expand India’s satellite constellations from 12 to 78 by 2031, with a dedicated naval constellation expected by 2027. He further highlighted Mission DefSpace, which fosters collaboration with startups, academia, and private industry.

Mr M Mohan, Chairman and Managing Director, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) spoke on India’s evolving commercial space ecosystem, underscoring NSIL’s role in enabling private participation, scaling indigenous capabilities, and enhancing India’s share in the global space economy. He identified policy reforms, public-private partnerships, and international collaborations as key drivers of growth.

Mr Rajeev Jyoti, Distinguished Scientist & Director, IN-SPACE Technical, DoS stressed the organisation’s role in providing a regulatory and facilitative environment for startups and industry, while also highlighting opportunities for international collaboration. He emphasized the need to align with global standards across space transportation, safety, and operations to ensure India’s competitiveness.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ISRO Astronaut, highlighted India’s growing human spaceflight ambitions, driven by collaboration between government, private sector, and global partners. He noted India’s long-term goal of establishing its own space station and landing on the Moon by 2040 with a pool of 40–50 astronauts.

Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, ISRO Astronaut, reflected on the transformative role of human presence in space. He called for a whole-of-government approach, bringing together entrepreneurs, academia, and international stakeholders. Emphasizing that space is the “master domain” linking land, air, sea, cyber, and AI, he compared astronauts to “data hubs” that, much like AI platforms, support critical decision-making.

Mr. Peter Winther-Schmidt, Consulate General & Head of Mission from Denmark, reaffirmed the strengthening of India–Denmark cooperation in space. He noted that shared goals in sustainability and innovation are fostering joint initiatives in Earth observation, climate resilience, and urban development. Denmark’s expertise in AI, machine learning, and climate monitoring aligns closely with India’s needs in agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management.

Mr. Apparao Mallavarapu underlined how India’s space sector has evolved from government-led missions to an innovation-centric ecosystem powered by satellite-based services. He noted that increased private participation is accelerating advancements in communication, navigation, and earth observation, thereby strengthening India’s digital infrastructure and national growth.

Mr. Rohan Ganapathy emphasized that India’s space economy is now focused on governance, development, and resilience through satellite-enabled solutions. He highlighted operational applications in agriculture, disaster management, communication, and infrastructure monitoring, citing initiatives such as Bhuvan, GAGAN, and RISAT as enablers of real-time decision-making and efficient service delivery.