NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the co-founders of Hyderabad-based space tech firm Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, to discuss the successful launch of their orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, and the expanding horizon of India’s commercial space enterprise.
Following the meeting in the national capital, Prime Minister Modi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to commend the young entrepreneurs, stating that their drive and vision encapsulate the energy of India's burgeoning space tech landscape.
"A great interaction with Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka of Skyroot Aerospace," PM Modi wrote. "The success of Vikram-1 naturally featured prominently in our discussion, in addition to many other interesting subjects. Happy to hear about their journey so far and their insights on what lies ahead. Their energy, ambition, and positivity reflect the vibrant spirit of our private space ecosystem."
Catalyzing India's Commercial Space Capabilities
Skyroot Aerospace created history by developing Vikram-1, an orbital launch vehicle designed to deliver small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). During their interaction, Chandana and Daka presented a commemorative memento to the Prime Minister and briefed him on the technological breakthroughs, operational strategies, and long-term roadmap planned for the company.
In an official statement released after the meeting, Skyroot highlighted the Prime Minister’s steadfast commitment to fostering innovation and supporting young technology leaders across the country.
"His encouragement for young entrepreneurs and his confidence in India's growing innovation ecosystem continue to inspire us," the company said, noting that the discussion focused heavily on future growth opportunities within the global small-satellite launch market.
Collaboration with ISRO and IN-SPACe
The Hyderabad-based startup acknowledged key regulatory and structural reforms introduced by the Central Government, which privatized parts of the space sector and established IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) as an autonomous single-window nodal agency.
Skyroot expressed its gratitude to both IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for providing the infrastructure, testing facilities, and technical guidance necessary to translate ambitious designs into flight-proven hardware.
"We are grateful for the visionary reforms that opened India's space sector, the support of IN-SPACe in enabling private spaceflight, and the trust and collaboration of ISRO, whose facilities and expertise have helped companies like Skyroot take bold ideas from the drawing board to orbit," Skyroot added on X. "The journey has only just begun. Onwards, from India to the world."
The meeting underlines India's ongoing efforts to position itself as a global hub for cost-effective satellite launches and commercial space ventures, driven by private-sector innovation working alongside state agencies.
