'Wave of curiosity among kids': PM hails India's space progress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday likened Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s safe return to Earth from the Axiom-4 mission this month to the historic moon landing of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023.

- Sejal Sharma

In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said such landmark moments spark a new wave of enthusiasm across the country, especially by igniting children’s curiosity about science and space.

“The moment Shubhanshu landed safely back on Earth, people jumped with joy. A wave of happiness swept through every heart. The whole country was filled with pride,” Modi said in his 124th Mann Ki Baat speech. “I still remember when Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the Moon in August 2023, a new atmosphere was created in the country.”

“Little children now say, we will also go to Space; we will also land on the Moon - we will become space scientists,” he said, adding that space startups have grown at a rapid speed, from less than 50 startups five years ago to over 200 now.