The 2^nd National Space Day (NSpD 2025) was celebrated with grandeur and pride on 23^rd August 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with the theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities”. The event was not just a commemoration but a reflection of India’s collective aspirations in space science and technology, bringing together the nation’s policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, innovators, studentsand the public.

This year's celebration was preceded by National Meet 2025 (NM 2.0), held on 22nd August 2025, on the theme “Leveraging Space Technology and Applications for Viksit Bharat 2047.” The decision to integrate the National Meet with the Space Day proved immensely fruitful, creating a unique convergence of ministries, state governments, industry, startups, academia and space enthusiasts.

National Space Day 2025 (NSpD 2.0): A Celebration of Achievements and Aspirations

On 23^rd August 2025, the spotlight shifted to celebrating India’s space achievements and inspiring the next generation.

Inaugural Session Highlights

• A video message from the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, setting the tone with his vision for India’s space future.
  
• Inaugural address by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also distributed prizes to winners of the ISRO Robotics Challenge and the Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon, both of which saw overwhelming nationwide participation
  

  
• A special highlight of the inaugural event was the presence of India’s four Gaganyatris, who joined the Hon’ble Minister of State for Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on stage. They shared their experiences and inspired students and youth, leaving a lasting impression on the audience
  
• Release of outcome reports from National Meet 2025 (NM 2.0) and the Chintan Shivir 2025, symbolizing India’s forward-looking policy approach
  

  
• A walkthrough of the space exhibition, showcasing contributions from industries, startups and ISRO centres
  

  

Inspiring Sessions and Discussions

The post-inaugural programme was rich and engaging:

• A Keynote Address by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, emphasized the transformative role of space technology in national progress
• Four Panel Discussions provided multi-dimensional perspectives:
  • 1. Space Vision 2047: Integrated Implementation at National Level - with stakeholders from government, industry, academiaand strategic sectors
  • 2. Space Economy: Marching towards Targeted Achievements - evaluating reforms and economic opportunities in the space sector
  • 3. SHE in Space - women leaders sharing their perspectives on inclusivity and diversity in the space ecosystem
  • 4. Astronauts Panel: Down to Earth, Up in Space - India’s Gaganyatris narrating their journeys, sparking curiosity and inspiration among students and youth

The exhibition also drew enthusiastic participation, with over 1,400 students and hundreds of teachers interacting with astronauts, scientists and industry representatives, creating a memorable experience for young minds.

Nationwide Engagement: A Celebration Across India

The 2025 celebrations went far beyond Delhi, culminating months of zonal events held across the country. ISRO Centres and Units organized nearly 100 outreach activities across 28 States and 8 Union Territories, directly reaching an estimated 1.5 lakh students and 15,000 teachers.

In addition to physical participation, the celebrations attracted a remarkable digital audience. More than 1.25 lakh viewers joined online through livestreaming and social media platforms, ensuring that the spirit of National Space Day reached every corner of the nation and engaged a truly diverse audience.

Two national-level competitions added further excitement to the celebrations:

• The ISRO Robotics Challenge, which began with 222 teams, culminated in a grand finale featuring 16 top teams.
• The Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon, which drew enthusiastic participation from students and innovators nationwide, showcased creativity in solving real-world challenges through space applications

The winners of both competitions were honoured during the inaugural session, embodying the spirit of innovation, problem-solving, and youthful energy that defines India’s future in space.

National Meet 2025 (NM 2.0): Building the Roadmap for 2047

Scientific Secretary, ISRO, M Ganesh Pillai welcomed all to the National meet. The Meet commenced with an inaugural session attended by senior dignitaries including Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space; Chairman, Space Commission; and Chairman, ISRO and Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe. The session highlighted the role of space in national development, followed by the inauguration of an exhibition that showcased innovations from startups, research institutions and industry.

The heart of NM 2.0 lay in its ten breakout sessions, which were ‘houseful’ withenthusiastic participation. These covered critical areas such as:

• Agriculture & Water
• Forest, Environment, Energy & Policy
• Infrastructure Development & Geo-Governance
• Health, Education & Social Welfare
• Communication, Navigation & Technology Diffusion
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Ocean, Weather & Earth Resources
• North-Eastern & Hilly States/UTs
• Coastal States/UTs
• Inland States/UTs

Each group brought together experts from government, industry and academia to identify sectoral demands and opportunities for space technology applications.

The Industry Session saw leading companies and startups present their cutting-edge solutions in geospatial analytics, Earth observation and downstream applications, underlining the vibrancy of India’s emerging space economy.

The Concluding Session, addressed Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime minister, summarized the deliberations and presented a roadmap to build national space infrastructure for 2047. The day ended with a cultural programme, adding colour and energy to the scientific discussions.

Looking Ahead

The Scientific Secretary, ISRO, M Ganesh Pillai summarized the proceedings of National Meet 2025 (NM2.0), National Space Day 2025 (NSpD 2.0) and the months-long zonal events leading up to them, highlighting the key outcomes and thanking all participants, organisers and partners for making the celebrations so engaging and fruitful.

National Space Day 2025 was not just a commemoration of milestones,it was a call to action for the nation. The insights from the National Meet, the enthusiasm of the youth, the collaboration across sectors and the vision shared by leaders all point towards an inclusive, technology-driven and ambitious space future for Viksit Bharat @2047.

As the curtains close on these celebrations, every participant returns inspired, carrying renewed vigor to contribute to India’s space journey and its role in shaping a self-reliant, developed nation.