Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 28 July met Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, the co-founders of Skyroot Aerospace, in New Delhi, in a wide-ranging discussion that went well beyond congratulations for the successful orbital flight of their Vikram-1 launch vehicle. The meeting underscored the Centre's deepening engagement with India's emerging private space sector.

What Was Discussed

What began as a congratulatory exchange quickly expanded into a substantive conversation covering technology roadmaps, long-term vision, and the growing landscape of opportunity for private players in India's space industry. According to Skyroot, the Prime Minister took a keen interest in the technology the company has developed, its forward plans, and the broadening window for private enterprise in space.

Modi later shared his impressions on X, calling it 'a great interaction' and noting that 'the success of Vikram-1 naturally featured prominently in our discussion, in addition to many other interesting subjects.' He praised the founders' 'energy, ambition and positivity,' saying they 'reflect the vibrant spirit of our private space ecosystem,' and signed off with encouragement for the entire Skyroot team.

Founders' Perspective

For Chandana and Daka, the meeting carried weight beyond symbolism. In a statement, the founders said they felt honoured to share the company's journey, the hard-won success of Vikram-1, and their longer-term vision for India's role in the global space industry. Skyroot added that Modi's confidence in young entrepreneurs continues to serve as a powerful source of inspiration for the team.

Acknowledgements and Policy Context

The company used the occasion to formally thank the government for policy reforms that opened the space sector to private participation, credited IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) for enabling private spaceflight, and acknowledged ISRO's role in providing facilities, technical expertise, and collaborative support.

This recognition is notable: the liberalisation of India's space sector — including the creation of IN-SPACe in 2020 — was a deliberate policy shift that Skyroot has directly benefited from, making it one of the clearest early validators of that reform.

Skyroot's Journey So Far

Founded in 2018 by ex-ISRO scientists Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka and headquartered in Hyderabad, Skyroot Aerospace designs on-demand rockets for small-satellite launches into Earth orbit. The company first made history with the Vikram-S suborbital flight — Mission Prarambh — launched from Sriharikota, making it India's first private firm to fire a rocket from Indian soil.

Its subsequent Vikram-1 rocket, under Mission Aagaman, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and successfully inserted multiple payloads into Low Earth Orbit — placing India among only three nations globally with demonstrated private orbital-launch capability. The achievement positions India alongside the United States and New Zealand in that exclusive bracket.

What Comes Next

With Vikram-1 now a proven platform, Skyroot's roadmap — as discussed with the Prime Minister — points toward scaling launch cadence and expanding payload capacity. The broader Indian private space sector, energised by IN-SPACe's regulatory framework, is expected to see more commercial launches in the coming years, with Skyroot among the frontrunners.