Chandrayaan-3 success proves India leads this century
New Delhi
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday hailed the success of Chandrayaan-3, calling it an “unprecedented feat” that proved the 21st century belongs to India. Marking National Space Day, he paid tribute to Indian scientists for making the nation a space superpower.
“Two years ago, our great scientists achieved a world record by successfully landing Chandrayaan-3 on the moon,” Puri said in his message on X. He recalled that India became the fourth nation, after the US, Russia, and China, to make a soft lunar landing, and the first to do so at the moon’s south pole. “This achievement proved that the 21st century belongs to India,” he added.
Former ISRO chairman Dr. S. Somanath, who led the Chandrayaan-3 mission, said the Vikram lander’s gentle touchdown was a “game-changing moment,” etched forever in India’s space history. “The control centre screens still glow with pride,” he said.
At the National Space Meet 2.0, P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, praised India’s space programme as a model of teamwork involving ministries, states, industries, scientists, and startups. He highlighted reforms such as spectrum allocation, venture capital support, and technology transfer that have created a vibrant ecosystem for innovation.
“India’s space journey is about empowering citizens, bridging divides, and building a self-reliant nation. As we march towards Viksit Bharat 2047, space will be a key driver of growth and transformation,” Mishra said.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan set ambitious goals, declaring that by 2040 India will match global leaders in rockets, satellites, and space applications, strengthening its role in shaping a developed India.