PM Modi Unveils Skyroot’s Infinity Campus & Vikram-I: A Landmark Push for India’s Private Space Leap

When India’s first private orbital-class rocket appears on screen — sleek, ambitious, and proudly homegrown — it carries far more than new hardware. It carries a signal. A signal that India’s space story is entering its boldest chapter yet.

That sentiment echoed strongly on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and unveiled Vikram-I, the startup’s first orbital rocket capable of launching satellites into space. The ceremony, held via video conferencing, turned into much more than an inauguration — it became a celebration of India’s rising private space economy, a sector once unimaginable for young founders but now thriving with national backing.

PM Modi Calls It A Moment That Symbolises India’s New Space Ambition

Calling it a “major moment for India’s private space sector,” PM Modi said the country is witnessing “an unprecedented opportunity in the space sector” as private enterprises, universities, and young innovators step into a domain once limited to government agencies.

The Prime Minister described Skyroot’s new campus as a testament to India’s evolving innovation culture:

“Skyroot’s Infinity Campus reflects India’s new thinking, innovation and youth power.”

Congratulating Skyroot’s young founders, Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, he called them an inspiration for the country’s next generation of space entrepreneurs.

“They trusted themselves, did not shy away from risks, and today the entire nation is witnessing their success.”

From Bicycle-Carried Rocket Parts to Orbital Rockets: PM Modi Reflects on ISRO’s Journey

In one of the most evocative moments of his address, PM Modi traced India’s space journey from its humble beginnings.

He pointed out how the country started its exploration with “limited resources but unlimited ambitions,” recalling iconic visuals of early rocket components being transported on bicycles and bullock carts.

“From carrying rocket parts on a bicycle to building the world’s most reliable launch vehicles, India has proved that our dreams are defined by resolve, not resources.”

He credited ISRO’s decades-long work, saying the agency’s credibility and scientific achievements created a strong platform upon which private players like Skyroot are now building.

Private Space Boom: A Revolution Six Years in the Making

PM Modi underlined how the government’s policy changes — especially opening the space sector to private companies, creating IN-SPACe, and finalizing a new national space policy — have transformed India’s space map in just six to seven years.

And the numbers prove it.

• 300+ space startups now operate in India

• Many began with two to five people in small rented rooms

• These startups are working in propulsion, materials, satellite platforms, and rocket stages

The Prime Minister described this surge as nothing less than the “Private Space Revolution of India.”

Young engineers, designers, coders and scientists, he said, are working on technologies that were unthinkable even a few years ago.

A Global Opportunity India Is Poised to Capture

PM Modi highlighted a crucial global shift: The demand for small satellites and high-frequency satellite launches is skyrocketing.

As space becomes a strategic asset, countries worldwide are looking for cost-efficient and reliable launch services — two areas where India already has a strong edge.

“India possesses capabilities that only a few countries have. Our launch infrastructure, engineering talent and manufacturing strength make us attractive to the world.”

The Prime Minister noted that India has the right mix of cost-effectiveness, reliability, and talent to become a global satellite launch hub.

India’s Startup Boom: Space Is Only One Part of the Story

PM Modi linked the rise of private space enterprises to the broader growth of India’s startup ecosystem.

• India is now the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem

• Startups are emerging not just from metros but also small towns

• Sectors like fintech, agritech, healthtech, climate tech and defence are witnessing rapid innovation

He also referenced India’s ongoing semiconductor push, highlighting the rise of fabrication units and design hubs across the country — a critical move to strengthen the nation’s electronics value chain.

The Next Frontier: Opening India’s Nuclear Sector

In a significant announcement, PM Modi revealed that India is moving toward opening the nuclear sector for private participation.

This reform, he said, will create opportunities in:

• Small modular reactors

• Advanced reactor technologies

• Nuclear innovation

This move aims to boost India’s long-term energy security and strengthen its technological leadership.

Boosting Research, Innovation & Future Tech

PM Modi emphasised that the future belongs to those who invest in research today. He highlighted several government initiatives shaping India’s next decade:

• National Research Foundation

• One Nation, One Subscription

• ₹1 lakh crore Research & Innovation Fund

• 10,000+ Atal Tinkering Labs (with a plan to scale to 50,000)

He reiterated India’s goal of creating five new space-tech unicorns within the next five years — a target he said Skyroot’s progress makes increasingly achievable.

Government’s Message: “We Stand With Every Innovator”

In closing, PM Modi assured young innovators that the government will walk alongside them at every step.

“The government stands firmly with every young person, every startup, every scientist, engineer and entrepreneur.”

Calling on the nation to collectively shape the next century, he said, “Let us work together to make the 21st century the century of India — on Earth and in space.”

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy also attended the event in Hyderabad.

Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and the unveiling of Vikram-I are more than milestones for one startup — they represent a generational shift.

A shift in how India builds, dreams, innovates, and competes globally.

With ISRO’s legacy, private ambition, and national policy aligning for the first time at scale, India’s space story is no longer limited to state missions. It is now a shared mission — one where startups, universities, young engineers, entrepreneurs and global partners are all part of a new, ambitious narrative.

And if today is any indication, that narrative is only getting started.