India fast emerging preferred destination in space sector: Jitendra Singh

India is fast emerging as a preferred global destination for space sector engagement and investment, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the India International Space Conclave, Singh said India's space sector was undergoing a decisive transformation and the government's reforms have created an enabling ecosystem where talent, technology and investment can converge to shape the future of the space economy.

Reforms introduced since 2019, including opening the sector to private players, establishing IN-SPACe as a single-window regulatory body and releasing the space policy in 2023, have helped India expand its role in the global space landscape, the minister said.

He said the unlocking of the space sector has brought start-ups, students, industry and citizens into what was once a closed domain.

Singh said that India's most significant contribution has been the application of space technology for governance and citizen welfare.

Nearly 70 per cent of India's space applications now support ease of living, he said, citing Gati Shakti for infrastructure planning, SWAMITVA for land mapping, satellite-enabled disaster management, telemedicine in remote regions and railway safety systems that can detect obstructions well in advance.

At the India International Space Conclave organised by the Indian Space Association (ISpA), Viasat announced that it will collaborate with state-run BSNL to commercialise its Velaris uncrewed air solutions for the Indian market.

"Viasat's Velaris is a satellite communications service that provides secure and reliable connectivity for uncrewed aircraft to operate beyond visual line of sight," Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India said.

This technology is crucial for enabling the integration of UAVs into commercial airspace. The service operates on Viasat's global L-band satellite network, which is designed for high-reliability, safety-critical applications, Sharma said.