PM Modi praises India’s Gen Z, says their innovation is powering the country’s space and defence growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s GenZ and surging achievements in space on Sunday (30th November), saying they demonstrate “new thinking, innovation and youth power” of the country. Addressing the 128th episode of his monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat, he highlighted how young Indians are pushing boundaries in science and technology, especially in space research.

PM Modi talked about a video he recently saw on social media about a unique drone competition organised by ISRO. He said, “A few days ago, a video on social media caught my attention. It was about a unique drone competition organised by ISRO. In this video, our country’s youth, especially our Gen-Z, were attempting to fly drones in Martian-like conditions. In this competition, a team of young people from Pune achieved some success. Their drone even fell and crashed several times, but they did not give up. After several attempts, this team’s drone managed to fly for some time in the conditions of Mars.”

The Prime Minister recalled how the country, especially ISRO scientists, felt discouraged when communication with the Vikram lander was lost during the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. But instead of giving up, the scientists immediately began planning for the next attempt. Their hard work and determination led to the success of Chandrayaan-3. Modi said the spirit shown by the youth in the drone competition and the dedication of Indian scientists represent the true strength of a developing and confident India.

PM Modi also referred to the recent launch of the Infinity Campus of Skyroot as another important step in the expanding space ecosystem of India. He reminded listeners that even long before modern technology, Indian sailors used to navigate the oceans without satellites, GPS, or advanced communication tools. Today, he said, the world is exploring the vastness of space with the same spirit of courage and curiosity.

On Thursday, 27th November, PM Modi, via video conferencing, inaugurated the Infinity Campus of Skyroot, a leading Indian space start-up. He also unveiled Skyroot’s first orbital rocket, called Vikram-I, which is capable of launching satellites into orbit. As Modi explained, projects like these showcase how the private space sector in India is getting stronger and more innovative.