India raises firewalls in sky, elevates cybersecurity at ISC 2025

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI, June 27: The final day of the India Space Congress (ISC) 2025 brought into sharp focus the growing duality of our times as humanity expands deeper into space, so must our vigilance to protect it.

Organised by the SIA-India, the third and concluding day was a decisive call to action to secure our space assets against evolving cyber threats, explore the transformational potential of bio-manufacturing in microgravity, and strengthen regulatory frameworks in SATCOM to invite greater investment and innovation.

From advanced discussions on outer space economy, it was evident that India is not just navigating space. It is carefully shaping how that journey will be governed, how it will be kept secure, and how it will create opportunities for people and businesses.

Opening the day’s proceedings, Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President of SIA-India, reflected on the momentum built over the past three days and commented, “Collaboration is one of the fundamental pillars for building global enterprises for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Information exchange and critical thinking have translated our shared vision into tangible progress, reaffirming our commitment to India’s transformative growth.”

It commenced with powerful interventions from key national leaders to visionaries from across the world that redefined the intersection of innovation, national strategy, and global competitiveness in the space domain.

Arti Bhatnagar, Special Secretary and Financial Advisor, DPIIT, emphasised the government’s proactive approach to nurturing innovation: “We’ve committed Rs 945 crore through the Startup

Seed Fund to support incubators across IITs, IISc, and beyond-empowering entrepreneurs even

in aspirational districts. I invite innovators to bring their ideas forward; the government is here to support you. It’s a proud moment that India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with unicorns making global headlines.”

From Skyroot Aerospace launching India’s first private rocket to breakthroughs in reusable technology, we’re witnessing history being made. Initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and Fasal Bima Yojana show how space tech is powering inclusive development and real-world outcomes, she said.

Lt. Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd), Deputy Chief of Army Staff, (I S &C) delivered a sharp strategic perspective, stating the entire lexicon and grammar of conflict is evolving, driven significantly by technology. Institutional mechanisms for understanding cooperative space activities must be strengthened.

“Cyberspace plays a pivotal role in linking the global commons. In the Indian context, we need an organisational review across diplomacy, industry, and security to match the pace of change. The Indian Space Council, too, needs structural realignment”, he said.

There is vast potential for military-space fusion in navigation, communications, and persistent surveillance, especially in under-covered regions, he added.

In a powerful alignment of policy and practice, the day also saw multiple strategic MoU signings, including with INFOTER (Hungary), CERT-In, and AI4ICPS at IIT Kharagpur, emphasising India’s ambition to align cybersecurity, AI, and global collaboration with its fast-evolving space ecosystem.

SIA-India also formalised a transformative partnership with Nabhah Cosmos Foundation by signing the Nabhah SIA India Declaration on Space Sustainability, a first-of-its-kind national initiative to address the growing threat of space debris.

Recognising the critical risks posed by uncontrolled orbital traffic, both organisations launched

a joint call for a “National Convergence”, which is a unified framework that brings together government, industry, academia, and civil society to protect India’s space assets.

Drawing inspiration from ISRO’s legacy and guided by the urgency of Kessler’s Syndrome, the declaration outlined a six-point National Action Plan, which highlights the need for collective responsibility, AI-driven innovation, and regulatory alignment to safeguard India’s orbital future

and global leadership.

The Congress further witnessed the release of the DEFSAT and IndSPACE Report by SIA-India During the session, Lt. Gen Vinod G Khandare (Retd), Former Principal Advisor, Ministry of Defence remarked, “As we strive toward the vision of Viksit Bharat, it is equally important to ensure Surakshit Bharat so balancing development with deterrence is essential to maintaining our national momentum and safeguarding our trajectory in the face of evolving global dynamics whether it’s the integration of tri-services or broader national-level frameworks, space domain is becoming indispensable across all domains civil, military, and strategic”.

“In the evolving threat matrix, space has become a critical dimension of national defence. Long gestation periods in space innovation demand collective funding and collaboration, as it is through unified efforts that we pave the way for pioneering advancements and secure a future, Mr. Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India said.

As the event drew to a close, the conversations had clearly shifted from aspiration to architecture. The discourse moved beyond technological prowess to encompass strategic integration, dual-use innovation, and the urgent need for resilience across India’s space ecosystem.

From promoting cross-sectoral synergies to embedding security and sustainability into orbital frameworks, the day’s deliberations highlighted that India’s space journey is now anchored in purpose-driven collaboration and long-term vision.

The path to a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is being charted not only in payloads and platforms but in policies, partnerships, and planetary responsibility.

(UNI)

 

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