Indian PM Modi Welcomes Global Participants to Astronomy Olympiad, Showcases India’s Space Achievements
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics via video message, welcoming over 300 participants from 64 countries to India.
“In India, tradition meets innovation, spirituality meets science, and curiosity meets creativity,” he said, recalling the contributions of ancient Indian astronomer Aryabhatta, who invented zero in the 5th century and first stated that the Earth rotates on its axis.
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| File Photo Source: PM NaMo |
He also underlined India’s role in global science projects such as the Square Kilometre Array and LIGO-India.
Recalling recent milestones, Modi cited the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which became the first to land near the Moon’s South Pole, and the Aditya-L1 solar observatory, which monitors solar flares and storms.
He also noted Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s recent mission to the International Space Station as a source of national pride.
The Prime Minister said India is committed to fostering scientific curiosity, with over 10 million students engaging in STEM learning through Atal Tinkering Labs, and the “One Nation One Subscription” scheme giving free access to reputed international journals.
He highlighted India’s high participation of women in STEM and significant investments in research.
Encouraging collaboration, the Prime Minister invited young scientists worldwide to study and conduct research in India.
He urged them to explore how space science can benefit life on Earth, such as improving weather forecasts, predicting natural disasters, monitoring environmental changes, and enhancing communication in remote areas.
Calling the Olympiad the largest to date, Modi thanked the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research for organising the event.
“Aim high, dream big. In India, we believe that the sky is not the limit -- it’s just the beginning,” he said.