PM Modi Hopes Monsoon and Parliamentary Session Yield Productive Outcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media outside Parliament on Monday, July 20, 2026, ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. He expressed hope that both the monsoon season and the parliamentary session would prove to be productive for the nation. Modi emphasized that reforms initiated by his government had instilled confidence in the youth, encouraging them to take bold steps toward progress. On the economic front, Modi highlighted the challenges posed by the West Asia conflict, which disrupted India’s energy imports. Despite these difficulties, he noted that India had achieved a growth rate of 7.7% during the previous quarter. He also acknowledged recent milestones in the country’s space sector, stating that significant achievements had been made in the past month. Modi urged lawmakers to actively participate in the Monsoon Session, stressing the importance of meaningful discussions and collective efforts to advance the nation’s goals. He emphasized that the Parliament, with its experienced members, needed to contribute its expertise to address current challenges. The government planned to introduce a bill in the Rajya Sabha to criminalize insults to the national song, Vande Mataram. However, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) opposed the move, calling it unconstitutional. Modi defended the initiative, asserting that there was no room for controversy when facts and logic were present. He reiterated that a positive spirit was essential for achieving national objectives. Modi also took a veiled jab at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi while praising India’s growing space capabilities.#prime_minister_narendra_modi #rajya_sabha #communist_party_of_india_marxist #skyroot_aerospace #parliamentary_session_monsoon
India's Private Rocket Company Aims to Revolutionize Space Access with 'Cab to Orbit' Vision Skyroot Aerospace, India's first space tech unicorn with a $1.1 billion valuation, is set to make history with its first orbital launch on Saturday. The company's Vikram-1 rocket, named after Vikram Sarabhai—the father of India's space program—will attempt to reach Low Earth Orbit from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) Sriharikota launch facility. Scheduled for liftoff at 11:30 India time [06:00 GMT], the mission marks a pivotal moment for India's private space sector, positioning the nation as the third country, alongside the U.S. and China, to have a private company capable of orbital launches. The seven-story rocket, designed to carry payloads of up to 350kg, aims to fulfill Skyroot's vision of offering a "cab service to space." This model allows companies to book dedicated missions for small satellites, bypassing the traditional reliance on large rockets with fixed schedules. Co-founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana described the approach as akin to hailing a taxi instead of waiting for a train, emphasizing the need to reduce the lengthy wait times for satellite launches. "Access to space remains a major bottleneck," Chandana told the BBC, noting that satellite operators often face delays of months or even years for launch opportunities. The Vikram-1 mission, part of Skyroot's test flight series called Aagman (Sanskrit for "arrival"), will deploy six payloads into orbit. These include scientific instruments such as a robotic arm for space debris removal, an Earth observation camera, and satellites from a German company.#isro #skyroot_aerospace #vikram_1 #pawan_kumar_chandana #sriharikota
