New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, during the virtual inauguration of Skyroot Aerospace’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad. He described the milestone as a major step toward establishing India as a global leader in satellite launch systems and credited the country’s growing private space sector for redefining its technological capabilities.
The Prime Minister said India has strengthened its reputation in space technology through credibility, innovation and capacity, applauding Skyroot founders Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka for inspiring a new generation of engineers and scientists. He noted that reforms introduced in recent years, including the opening of the sector to private participation, have transformed the industry into a collaborative and innovation-driven ecosystem.
He highlighted policy measures such as the creation of IN-SPACe, a supportive framework for private players, and increased cooperation with ISRO. According to him, these steps have encouraged rapid growth, leading to the rise of more than 300 space startups, many of which began with limited resources but ambitious goals.
The Prime Minister said global demand for small satellites and frequent launches has created significant opportunities for India. He added that international companies are increasingly looking to collaborate with Indian firms due to the country’s cost-effective and reliable approach to space missions.
He also linked the momentum in space to the broader startup boom across multiple sectors, including finance, agriculture, healthcare, climate solutions, education and defence. With more than 1.5 lakh registered startups, he stressed that innovation has expanded beyond major cities into smaller towns, positioning India among the world’s largest and most dynamic startup ecosystems.
The Prime Minister discussed India’s growing deep-tech manufacturing potential, highlighting semiconductor fabrication and design hubs, and also spoke about opening the nuclear sector to private participation. He said expanding research access and supporting high-tech manufacturing will ensure strong opportunities for India’s youth.
Skyroot’s newly inaugurated Infinity Campus spans 200,000 square feet and is designed to produce one rocket every month. Vikram-I, the company’s first orbital launch vehicle, will enable commercial satellite deployments and marks a major transition from its earlier sub-orbital success with Vikram-S in 2022. The new facility and rocket are expected to strengthen India’s presence in the global commercial launch market.
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