India-Pak tensions: Satellites working round-the-clock to ensure India's security, says ISRO chief Narayanan

Isro chief V Narayanan

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan said that 10 satellites are working round-the-clock for strategic purposes in order to ensure the safety and security of Indians.

"If we want to ensure the safety of our country, we have to serve through our satellites. We have to monitor our 7,000 km-long seashore. Without satellite and drone technology, we can't achieve many things," he said.

The ISRO chief made the remarks on Sunday even as India-Pakistan tensions continued to simmer after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He was addressing the 5th Convocation Ceremony of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) in Agartala.

Through many satellites, ISRO has been serving the common people in agriculture, tele-education, telemedicine, television broadcasting, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, food security, and strategic sectors.

Narayanan noted that satellites are also playing a crucial role in disaster management and mitigation. "Earlier, during disasters, thousands of people lost their lives, but today this is not the case," he said.

India holds the number one position globally in nine areas within the space sector, the ISRO chief added.

"The Chandrayaan-1 mission discovered evidence of water molecules on the Moon's surface. India was the first country to achieve this. At least 433 satellites for 34 countries have been launched from India and placed into orbit," he said.

Meanwhile, Narayanan said, India has built satellites for G20 countries to monitor climate change and other critical sectors. He announced that India and the US would jointly build the world's most expensive and advanced earth-imaging satellite.

He highlighted that until 1975, India had no satellite technology and was nearly 70 years behind advanced nations in space development.

Emphasising the need for advanced satellite technology for the betterment of citizens, Narayanan — who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Space — predicted that before India celebrates 100 years of independence, it will become a leader in every field and a major contributor to global progress.

Narayanan said ISRO and its satellites are playing a vital role in the development of the northeastern states and are supporting the implementation of various regional projects.

"Around 100 science students from each of the eight northeastern states would get an opportunity to visit the ISRO Centre in Bengaluru to foster curiosity and awareness about space science and technology," he added.