Jitendra Singh visits exhibition showcasing India’s space, nuclear and strategic mineral capabilities

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday visited an exhibition in New Delhi highlighting India’s advancements in space technology, nuclear energy and strategic mineral exploration.

The exhibition, held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, showcased key milestones and future plans in India’s scientific and energy programmes. Addressing the gathering, the minister said that presenting India’s achievements in space, nuclear science and other fields can inspire students and help them discover their innate scientific aptitude.

Singh also advised organisers to arrange guided visits for school and college students to encourage greater interest in science and technology. He further suggested preparing short social media versions of the exhibits to reach a wider audience.

The exhibition highlighted India’s expanding capabilities in space technology, including its fleet of launch vehicles such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the heavy-lift LVM3 rocket, which supports the country’s human spaceflight programme.

Information panels noted that India has conducted over a hundred launch missions, deploying hundreds of satellites that support communication, navigation, earth observation and scientific research.

The displays also outlined the country’s long-term vision for space exploration, including the development of human spaceflight systems and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station, an Indian space station aimed at enabling sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit and facilitating microgravity research. Future lunar missions, deep-space studies and the expansion of satellite-based services were also part of the roadmap presented.

In addition to the space programme, the exhibition showcased India’s nuclear energy strategy and efforts to strengthen long-term energy security. It explained the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme, which aims to utilise limited domestic uranium resources while harnessing India’s vast thorium reserves.

The first stage focuses on pressurised heavy water reactors using natural uranium fuel, followed by fast breeder reactors designed to produce more fissile material than they consume. The third stage envisages advanced reactor systems capable of using thorium-based fuel cycles.

The exhibition also highlighted India’s strategic mineral resources, including heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, garnet and sillimanite found in coastal placer deposits along the country’s nearly 11,000-kilometre coastline. Exploration and assessment of these resources are carried out by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research.

The Department of Space said the exhibition aimed to present a comprehensive picture of India’s scientific infrastructure, including research institutions, fuel cycle facilities and nuclear power plants that support the country’s energy generation and technological advancement.

India’s space and nuclear programmes remain key pillars of the country’s scientific development, with the space sector supporting communication, navigation and earth observation services, while nuclear energy contributes to meeting growing electricity demand and strengthening low-carbon energy capacity.