ISRO Monitoring India's Borders 24x7 with 10 Satellites: Chairman V Narayanan
- ISRO uses 10 satellites to monitor India's borders 24x7.
- India leads in space tech with 433 satellite launches for 34 countries.
- ISRO aids agriculture, disaster relief, and educates NE students on space.
In a major discovery highlighting India's advancements in space technology, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan revealed that 10 satellites are keeping vigil round-the-clock on India's borders to keep the country secure and its people safe. He made the assertion while addressing the 5th Convocation of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) ceremony at the College of Fisheries here in Lembucherra, Tripura.
Speaking to the assembly, Narayanan underscored the crucial role of satellites and drone technology in safeguarding the country's expansive 7,000 km coastline and national security. "If we need to secure our country, we need to serve through our satellites," he stated. "Without the use of satellite and drone technology, we cannot do many things".
Emphasizing the diversely contributory nature of ISRO, Narayanan said that aside from strategic and defense purposes, ISRO satellites have played key roles in transforming several sectors such as agriculture, tele-education, tele-medicine, weather forecasting, television broadcasting, environmental surveillance, and disaster management. He mentioned that satellite technology has decreased the number of casualties in calamities by a large margin, quite a contrast with the high casualty rates during calamities in the past.
"India is a world leader in nine space-related fields", Narayanan asserted. Referring to ISRO's successes, he said the Chandrayaan-1 mission became the first to find water molecules on the surface of the Moon. He also revealed that India has so far launched 433 satellites of 34 countries and played a crucial role in the development of satellites for G-20 nations to track climate change and other global issues.
Narayanan additionally revealed that India and the United States are jointly developing the world's most costly and sophisticated Earth-imaging satellite, to be launched from Indian soil. This is another milestone in the intensifying space collaboration between the two countries.
Looking back on India's space science journey, Narayanan remembered that until 1975, the nation did not have any satellite capability and was 70 years behind the developed world. Now, however, he asserted, India is on its way to becoming a world leader in space technology when it reaches its 100th year of independence.
Narayanan also linked technological advances to wider national progress. He pointed to India's evolution from a food-importing country during the 1950s to becoming a leader in food export with over 250 million tons of food produced. He attributed this change to advances in technology and farming, as well as India's emergence as a significant producer of electricity, milk, and manufacturing.
"Over the past few decades, average life expectancy in India has increased from 32 to 72 years", he said, while pointing out that child and maternal mortality have come down substantially, reflecting better healthcare and social infrastructure.
Specifically targeting the northeastern states, Narayanan stated that 100 science students from each of the eight northeastern states would be invited to visit the ISRO centre in Bengaluru. The move is to awaken curiosity and inspire interest in space science and technology among the younger generation.
The ISRO Chairman ended his address by urging graduating students to make a positive contribution to society. "There is no alternative to hard work and smart work. Self-confidence, self-motivation, and virtuous leadership qualities are necessary", he exhorted the students to become not only good professionals but good human beings too.
The convocation ceremony was headed by CAU Chancellor Prof. Pradeep Kumar Joshi. CAU, with its headquarters in Imphal, Manipur, has campuses in eight northeastern states and is working to promote agricultural education and research in the region.
