Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday, 27 July 2026, shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, highlighted the successful launch of Vikram-1 — described as India's first privately developed rocket — calling it a milestone for the country's emerging private space ecosystem.

Context

In his post on X, Dr. Jitendra Singh relayed the Prime Minister's remarks, noting that PM Modi credited the opening of India's space sector to private participation for unlocking 'new opportunities for innovation.' The PM specifically acknowledged that India's young innovators had achieved 'historic milestones' and contributed to strengthening the nation's space ecosystem. The launch of Vikram-1 was cited as a direct outcome of that liberalisation.

Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister's monthly unscripted radio programme broadcast on the last Sunday of each month, has increasingly been used to spotlight technology and innovation success stories from across the country, giving national visibility to private and start-up achievements that might otherwise receive limited mainstream attention.

Policy Backdrop

The policy foundation for Vikram-1's emergence traces back to June 2020, when the Government of India announced sweeping reforms opening the space sector to private players and established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). The body was created to serve as a single-window regulator and promoter for private space activity, operating alongside the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Subsequent policy instruments — including the Spacecom Policy draft and enabling guidelines issued in 2021 — allowed private companies to independently design, build, and operate launch vehicles and satellites. These reforms marked a decisive shift away from India's decades-old state-monopoly model in space, drawing comparisons with the commercial crew frameworks adopted in the United States and parts of Europe.

The initiative also aligns with the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda, which seeks to reduce import dependence in strategic and high-technology sectors while cultivating domestic industrial and start-up capability.

Stakeholders and Impact

The beneficiary most directly associated with Vikram-1 is the private space start-up ecosystem, which has grown substantially since the 2020 reforms. Companies and young innovators who previously had no regulatory pathway to access launch infrastructure or spectrum now operate under a structured framework administered by IN-SPACe.

ISRO, once the sole actor in India's space programme, now plays a collaborative role — sharing facilities, expertise, and infrastructure with private entities. The Prime Minister's decision to spotlight this milestone on Mann Ki Baat is expected to further encourage investment and talent into India's private space sector. For the Science and Technology Ministry, the launch represents a tangible policy dividend from reforms initiated under the current administration.

What's Next

Attention now turns to the pipeline of private-sector launches awaiting IN-SPACe authorisation, as well as any parliamentary legislation that could formalise and expand the regulatory framework governing India's commercial space activities. Dr. Jitendra Singh's amplification of the Prime Minister's remarks signals that the government intends to keep the private space sector's progress in the public spotlight — using milestones like Vikram-1 to build political and public momentum for deeper reforms ahead.