JAMMU, October 28, 2026 – Aiming to bolster India’s self-reliance and technological prowess, the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) inaugurated a major two-day capacity-building workshop on “Indigenous Space Technology for Viksit Bharat 2047: Mission Excellence to Space Leadership” on Tuesday.
Organised by the Satish Dhawan Centre for Space Science at the university, the event brought together leading experts, policymakers, and academicians to brainstorm India’s trajectory in the global space economy.
Addressing the inaugural gathering, Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor of CUJ, highlighted the vital need to nurture grassroots innovation and strengthen India’s technological capabilities to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. R Balasubramaniam, Member of NITI Aayog and the chief guest for the occasion, underscored the pivotal role of higher education institutions in achieving national missions. He emphasized that such workshops are critical in sensitizing young minds, inspiring them to explore emerging technological frontiers, and meaningfully contributing to national development.
Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner/Secretary, School Education, observed that the workshop reflects India’s rapidly growing self-reliance in space exploration. He noted the specific relevance of space technology for Jammu and Kashmir, stating it could play a crucial role in disaster management, national security, and environmental protection.
Guest of Honour Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education), stressed that the vision of a developed India relies on collective efforts. She expressed confidence that the brainstorming sessions would provide a strategic direction for developing indigenous space tech.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CUJ and the Board of Apprenticeship Training (Northern Region), Kanpur, to launch the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Program (AEDP).
Coordinated by Prof. Santap Sanhari Mishra and Prof. Rakesh Jha, the two-day event features eight thematic sessions focusing on indigenous technological capabilities, strategic leadership, private-sector participation, human spaceflight, space diplomacy, and industry-academia collaboration.
Published by True Roots Media Network