Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded India's Generation Z (Gen Z), born roughly between 1997 and 2012, for their confidence, capacity building, and contributions to technological innovation, particularly in the burgeoning space sector. Speaking on Thursday via video conference at the inauguration of Skyroot Aerospace's Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and the unveiling of its first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, Modi asserted that India's Gen Z can serve as a role model for youth across the world.
Modi emphasized that young innovators globally can draw inspiration from the confidence and positive mindset of India's Gen Z. He highlighted their role in developing solutions across various sectors and setting a global benchmark for their peers. Modi noted that India's youth consistently prioritize national interests and effectively utilize every opportunity. He pointed out that when the government opened the space sector to private players, Gen Z was among the first to seize the moment.
The Prime Minister remarked that India now boasts over 300 space startups, many of which began with small teams operating from modest spaces but driven by immense ambition. This spirit, according to Modi, has fueled the private space revolution in India. He specifically praised Gen Z engineers, designers, coders, and scientists for pioneering innovations in areas such as propulsion systems, composite materials, rocket stages, and satellite platforms.
Modi stated that India's young talent is currently engaged in fields that were previously unimaginable, establishing a distinct global identity. He also noted that the space sector is emerging as an attractive destination for global investors due to this growing talent pool.
Reflecting on India's space journey, Modi recalled the nation's humble beginnings with minimal resources, but emphasized that ambition was never lacking. He highlighted the country's progress from transporting rocket parts on bicycles to developing some of the world's most reliable launch vehicles, demonstrating that determination is more crucial than resources. He added that India has built a reputation grounded in credibility, capacity and value, with ISRO playing a crucial role in propelling the nation's space achievements over the decades.
Modi connected the advancements in the space sector to the broader startup revolution occurring across India. He noted that over the past decade, a surge of startups has emerged in diverse sectors like fintech, agritech, healthtech, climate tech, edutech, and defense tech, with India's youth, particularly Gen Z, providing innovative solutions in every field. He highlighted that India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with startups now emerging from small towns and villages, not just major urban centers. India currently has over 1.5 lakh registered startups, with many achieving unicorn status.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that India is rapidly advancing towards deep-tech, manufacturing, and hardware innovation, thanking Gen Z for powering this transformation. He expressed confidence that India's Gen Z can inspire young people worldwide with their creativity, positive attitude, and capacity-building skills.
