India Space Congress in June to discuss emerging trends in sector

New Delhi: Nearly 1,000 policymakers and experts from more than 30 nations will gather in Delhi in June for the three-day India Space Congress to deliberate on the new opportunities in the country's space sector.

India's space sector regulator Pawan Kumar Goenka and industry leaders will deliberate on issues such as satellite communications, geospatial applications, deep-space exploration, emerging technologies, Earth observation and strategic trade corridors.

The fourth India Space Congress, organised by the Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India), will be held in the national capital from June 25-27 under the theme "Pioneering Innovations in Space Technology: India's Journey Towards Global Partnership".

"Country sessions will also bring delegations from Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and the Middle East, highlighting opportunities for bilateral cooperation in capacity-building, joint missions and industrial co-development," SIA-India said in a statement.

With more than 35 focused thematic sessions, the India Space Congress will cover crucial domains such as satellite communications, geospatial applications, deep-space exploration, emerging technologies, Earth observation and strategic trade corridors.

Discussions will spotlight advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, quantum communication, hyperspectral imaging and space-based biomanufacturing, as well as evolving challenges in orbital debris mitigation, security and global regulatory alignment.

Besides Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) chairman Goenka, other speakers include M Ravichandran, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences secretary; Abhay Karandikar, Department of Science and Technology secretary; National Institute of Advanced Studies director Shailesh Nayak; Kai-Uwe Schrogl, International Institute of Space Law president; and SIA-India president Subba Rao Pavuluri.

ISRO's former scientific secretary VS Hegde; and senior retired defence leaders Lt Gen VG Khandare, principal advisor in the defence ministry; and Lt Gen (Dr) PJS Pannu will also take part.