Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, India to put man on moon before 2040

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said, India will put a man on the moon before 2040. Addressing the media in New Delhi, Hardeep Singh Puri said that the Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human space flight capability. He said that the India space sector has made massive strides in the last nine years. Mr. Puri said that India is on the way to expand its global space economy share from two to ten percent adding that India’s space economy stands at eight billion dollars and is expected to reach hundred billion dollars in the coming decade. He said, about 51 spacecraft missions have been launched post 2014. Mr. Puri said, effort of the government is to apply advanced space technology to various developmental projects including PM Awas Yojana, PM Gram Sadak Yojana and Geo-Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Talking about the significance of innovation, Mr. Puri said, there are over 195 startups spearheaded by young people in the space sector. He shared that India stands fifth among the spacefaring countries in the world. He said that the there is a need to create an ecosystem of growth along with budgetary support for holistic development of the sector.