Modi, Elon Musk discuss India-US tech ties

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday about growing India-US cooperation in technology and innovation. Modi shared the update on X, saying they discussed topics from their previous meeting in Washington earlier this year. He stressed India’s focus on strengthening ties with the US in these fields.

Modi and Musk had earlier met in Washington in February. After that meeting, Modi praised Musk’s passion for space, mobility, and innovation. He also mentioned India’s push for reforms and the idea of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”

The Prime Minister also posted photos with Musk’s children, calling the meeting delightful and wide-ranging.

This conversation comes as Tesla is preparing to enter the Indian market. Meanwhile, India and the US are in talks for a trade agreement.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently met with top Starlink executives in Delhi. They discussed the company's plans for investing in India, including technology partnerships and future projects.

Indian telecom companies like Airtel and Vodafone Idea are also exploring partnerships with Starlink for satellite-based internet services. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said satellite internet is essential for rural areas where mobile or fiber services are hard to reach.

Scindia emphasized that satellite services would complement existing networks, especially during disasters when regular communication lines fail.

Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, aims to provide fast internet across the globe, is still awaiting a license to begin services in India. The government is finalizing new rules for spectrum pricing. Once approved, any firm meeting Indian laws can apply for a license.