To get there, the country needs to rope in young scientists, startups, investors, and private industry partners, none of whom respond well to a closed-off approach, senior ISRO scientists said. Publicising ISRO scientists' achievements has given them more confidence and brought space startups to the door, asking for guidance as they plan private launches. A more responsive agency makes such partnerships more attractive, private space insiders say. "Private industry does not need help, they need predictability," said D S Govindrajan, president of Aniara Communications, which provides satellite services for emerging markets. Modi's government, heading for elections next year, is pushing the development of India's space industry.

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Persons: Namrata Goswami, Narendra Modi, Sruthi Parupudi, Somanath, Govindrajan, Ashok Sharma, Somak Raychaudhury, Raychaudhury, Nivedita, Gerry Doyle Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Indian Space Research, YouTube, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, Aniara Communications, NASA, University of New, Australian Defence Force Academy, Indian, NewSpace India, Indian Space Association, Ashoka University, Thomson Locations: India, Indian, Ahmedabad, U.S, China, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Bengaluru