CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Participates in Space Technology & Applications Conference 2025 Focused on Himalayan States

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Space Technology and Applications Conference 2025 held at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan at the Chief Minister’s residence, focusing on the role of Himalayan states in building a “Developed India by 2047.”

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan graced the event as the special guest. Welcoming the scientists and participants from across the country, the Chief Minister said that this conference would serve as a milestone in realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat@2047.” He emphasized that space technology today is no longer limited to research alone but plays a significant role in communication, agriculture, weather forecasting, disaster management, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Congratulating ISRO and Indian scientists, CM Dhami expressed pride over Indian scientist Shri Shubhanshu Shukla hoisting the national flag on the International Space Station. He stated that Shukla’s contribution would lay a crucial foundation for the Gaganyaan mission and future space programs.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched a dashboard developed jointly by ISRO and UCOST to transform Champawat into a model district. He also released a book published by ISRO. He affirmed that the Uttarakhand government is committed to promoting scientific and technological innovation, with ongoing efforts to establish Science City, Science and Innovation Centres, and advanced labs focused on AI, robotics, and drones.

The CM expressed confidence that this conference would play a pivotal role in making Uttarakhand a “space technology-friendly state” and contribute to its sustainable development.

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan recalled that India launched its first rocket in 1963. Since then, over 100 rockets have been launched. Until 1975, India had no satellites of its own, but today it operates 131 satellites. Satellites are now instrumental in everything from television broadcasting to various daily needs. ISRO is actively working on a human space program, including a rocket capable of launching satellites weighing up to 75,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit within 27 days.

He reminisced about the early days when rockets were transported by bicycles, but today India has achieved numerous global milestones. India was the first country to discover the presence of water molecules on the Moon and the first to land on the Moon’s South Pole. It is also the fourth country to study the Sun through the Aditya-L1 mission and to send a satellite into Mars orbit in its very first attempt.

Dr. Narayanan noted that India aims to build its own space station by 2030 and to send astronauts to the Moon by 2040. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, he said, India is setting new benchmarks and is on track to becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director of the National Remote Sensing Centre, highlighted the growing use of space data in everyday life. He pointed out that satellites provide vital updates along with GPS navigation. In Uttarakhand, livestock data has been digitized. During the Rishi Ganga–Chamoli disaster, satellite mapping and data were used for national policy-making and post-disaster needs assessments.

He emphasized that Earth observation, satellite communications, and navigation have transformed human life. In Uttarakhand, satellite data is extensively used during natural disasters, for forest fire mapping, and for environmental conservation. It also supports glacier lake monitoring and forecasting events like floods and cloudbursts.

Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan stated that Uttarakhand is focused on adopting space technology and developing a permanent scientific infrastructure. He urged ISRO to adopt some of the state’s science centres and requested real-time, non-commercial access to high-resolution satellite imagery such as Cartosat’s 50cm resolution data.

Also present at the conference were Principal Secretary Shri R.K. Sudhanshu, Shri R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shri Shailesh Bagauli, Shri Nitesh Jha, UCOST Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant, and other scientists.

—Issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Uttarakhand.