States » SouthPosted at: Jun 26 2025 9:07PM


India shaping ethical, legal, scientific frameworks to define Space trajectory

Chennai/New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Against the backdrop of expanding commercial activity, intensifying strategic stakes, and the growing urgency for planetary stewardship, the India Space Congress (ISC) 2025 brought forth a compelling narrative that India is not merely participating in
the space race—it is shaping the ethical, legal, scientific, and economic frameworks that will define
its trajectory.
Organised by SIA-India, the annual flagship event shifted the conversation from showcasing capability to defining responsibility, with an agenda that wove together sustainability, collaboration, and innovation on the second day deliberations today.
"We are not just launching satellites—we're launching standards for how space should be governed, sustained, and measured. India’s space narrative must set precedents, not follow them." Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India
The day's proceedings began with strong calls for space governance grounded in trust and legal coherence. “As we move towards a USD one trillion global space economy, robust legal frameworks are essential. India’s expanding presence makes its leadership in shaping space law indispensable."
The implementation of international obligations is a sovereign duty—it cannot be delegated to private actors. Cooperation on traffic management, sustainability, and transparency is crucial to building a secure and inclusive space order,” said Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, President of the International Institute of Space Law and Special Advisor for Political Affairs at the European Space Agency.
In one of the most significant interventions of the day, SIA-India and the Nabhah Cosmos Foundation jointly released the National Action Plan for Space Sustainability.
Structured around six core focus areas—debris mitigation, sustainable satellite design, regulatory alignment, commercial responsibility, data transparency, and capacity building—the document provides a strategic framework to institutionalise sustainability across India’s space sector.
It is poised to shape India’s engagement with global multilateral forums and strengthen its position
as a responsible spacefaring nation.
The Congress also underlined the need for a formal economic accounting of India’s space activities.
Even as the sector pushes toward sustainability and global alignment, it remains under-measured in national economic terms.
As noted during the designated session led by IN-SPACe and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the space sector directly and indirectly impacts nearly every domain of governance. Accurate GDP estimation and sectoral mapping are essential for better policymaking, investment strategies, and international benchmarking. Industry representatives were urged to actively participate in data sharing to support the government’s efforts in building a credible and transparent framework for space economy estimation.
The Congress further emphasised the scientific promise of space with the release of a new whitepaper by SIA-India titled “Microgravity Research for Pharmaceutical Innovation: A New
Frontier for Indian Drug Development.”
Speaking during the session, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and
Director-General of ICMR, said “Space holds vast potential to improve healthcare on Earth.
Microgravity research in pharma and biotech can lead to better medicines.
Technologies like telecom and AI can monitor astronaut health and benefit Earth-based care.
Fast-tracking innovations in protein molecule research will enhance healthcare, he said.
The whitepaper outlines opportunities for India to lead in orbital biotechnology and pharmaceuticals through focused R&D, international partnerships, and policy support for commercialisation.
Other significant sessions explored India’s strategic autonomy in space through indigenisation, advancing quantum-secured communication, the integration of SATCOM with 5G/6G networks,
and leveraging space for disaster resilience and critical infrastructure.
Discussions also highlighted the potential of space-enabled trade corridors such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and deepened bilateral and multilateral collaborations with partners including the United States and New South Wales, Australia.
The day witnessed powerful interventions from visionaries across sectors, including May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan; Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Mr. Safi Ahsan Rizvi, Advisor (Mitigation), NDMA; Dr. N Ranjana, Director, DFTM, DRDO; Prof. Vinay Kumar Dadhwal, NIAS; Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion, IN-SPACe; Mr. Brijendra Singh, Deputy Director General, National Accounts Division, MoSPI; Dr. A.K. Anil Kumar of ISRO on IS4OM; and Dr. Sudharshana Ramaraju, Founder, Nabhah Cosmos Foundation, among others.
“Global collaboration in space is no longer optional—it is structural to how the future unfolds. India’s role must be to not only participate, but to align visions, bridge capacities, and co-create norms that ensure space remains open, secure, and sustainable for all,” said Mr. Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India.
As the day concluded, the core message was clear: India’s space journey is no longer defined solely by launch milestones or satellite capability—it is now being shaped by principles of sustainability, legal foresight, scientific ambition, and economic accountability.
Day 2 of ISC 2025 did not just present a vision of the future—it outlined the frameworks and partnerships needed to build it.
UNI GV 2055
Tags: #India shaping ethical# legal# scientific frameworks to define Space trajectory
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