The Moon landing in 2040, he said, will be a symbolic moment in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
India’s space programme is no longer about symbolic milestones; it’s a strategic engine for national development, global leadership, and interplanetary ambition. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday declared that by 2040, an Indian astronaut will announce “Viksit Bharat 2047” from the Moon, sending a message across the universe that India has arrived.
Speaking at the National Space Day event at Bharat Mandapam, Singh outlined a bold roadmap for India’s space journey, anchored in scientific progress, public welfare, and global collaboration.
“National Space Day is a reminder that India’s achievements in space are not an end in themselves but a stepping stone to a larger vision, where science, innovation, and public welfare come together to build the nation’s future,” he said.
The minister highlighted the outcomes of the recently concluded National Meet 2.0, which followed nearly 300 interactions with user departments and produced 90 documents forming a 15-year roadmap. The plan includes the launch of over 100 satellites—70 per cent of them small satellites—through a mix of government-led technology missions and private sector operational programmes.
Singh said the roadmap will guide India’s space ambitions to 2040 and beyond, supporting national goals in food and water security, disaster resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth. He also emphasised the transformative shift in India’s space ecosystem, with hundreds of start-ups now contributing to interplanetary exploration and governance applications.
India’s future missions include the human-robot mission Vayumitra in 2025, the Gaganyaan human spaceflight in 2027, Chandramitra in 2028, Chandrayaan-4, a Venus mission, and the proposed Bharat Antariksh Station by 2035. The Moon landing in 2040, he said, will be a symbolic moment in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Singh also praised student-led innovation through the Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon and ISRO Robotics Challenge, noting their role in building indigenous capabilities.