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India-France space cooperation enters new phase with focus on human spaceflight, start-ups: Jitendra Singh
Sep-29-2026

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said that India-France Space Cooperation has entered new phase, with a renewed focus on human spaceflight, start-ups and the development of new space ecosystem. He made the remarks during a meeting with a high-level French delegation led by France's Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, Philippe Baptiste, in New Delhi. 

Singh said the long-standing relationship between India and France offers significant opportunity to build a larger ecosystem by bringing together governments, research institutions, industries and start-ups, including through deeper engagement in the rapidly expanding space sector. The discussions covered the Space Summit, India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and priorities in scientific and technological cooperation, including Space, CEFIPRA and Blue Economy. He said the breadth of the delegation itself reflected the wide-ranging nature of India-France cooperation across different science domains.  

He said India-France space cooperation is as old as the two countries’ respective space agencies, with the partnership progressing from sounding rocket experiments in the 1960s to present-day human spaceflight. He referred to Megha-Tropiques and SARAL, jointly built by ISRO and CNES, as well as cooperation in launch vehicle engine development, as milestones of this enduring partnership. He said the realisation of the third joint satellite, TRISHNA, is progressing well, and also appreciated CNES support to India’s Gaganyaan programme, including supply of consumables and training of flight surgeons. Indian and French teams have also initiated discussions on microgravity research and parabolic flights in connection with human spaceflight.

Highlighting the transformation of India's space sector, the minister said the ongoing transformation of India’s space sector has created new possibilities for the two countries to expand cooperation beyond government institutions and established agencies. Referring to India’s space-sector reforms and the growth of the private ecosystem, he said more than 400 Indian space start-ups are now engaged in areas including rocket building, satellite building and space applications. He said the next phase of India-France cooperation can bring together government institutions, industries and start-ups on both sides to create a larger ecosystem and wider resource pool. 

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