The Prime Minister also outlined the government’s legislative agenda as Parliament’s Monsoon Session opened, with Bills on Supreme Court judge strength and national honour among those slated for introduction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday, praising Skyroot Aerospace's young team while taking a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a veiled swipe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi while praising India’s private space sector, saying the country’s latest achievement was driven by youngsters with an average age of 28, “not any 56-year-old youngster.”
Addressing the media ahead of the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, PM Modi congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram-1 Test Flight-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket to reach orbit. He said the achievement reflected the growing strength of India’s startup ecosystem and its young innovators.
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“Just before last year’s Monsoon Session, an Indian citizen reached the International Space Station, and the day before yesterday, India’s young startup achieved a very big milestone. There are very few countries in the world where such private ventures have taken place, and India’s youth have taken a new flight into space,” Modi said.
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Referring to the Hyderabad-based startup, the Prime Minister said he had been informed that the average age of Skyroot’s team was only 28 years.
“Such youngsters have accomplished this work. I am not talking about any 56-year-old ‘youngster.’ I am talking about these startups in the country with an average age of 28 that have planted India’s flag in space,” he said, in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi also expressed hope that both the southwest monsoon and the Monsoon Session would prove beneficial for the country.
“The benefits of the monsoon are visible, and the Monsoon Session is also commencing. Both are productive, and when both are productive, they contribute to the welfare of the nation,” he said.
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 successfully reached a nearly 450-km orbit, making it the maiden flight of India’s first privately developed orbital-class launch vehicle.
The mission, named “Mission Aagaman”, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The 24-metre carbon-composite rocket completed all planned stages, including stage separations and the firing of its Orbital Adjustment Module before placing its payloads into orbit.
The success makes India the third country to achieve private orbital launch capability, according to the government. Modi separately congratulated the company following the launch.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which runs until August 13, opened on Monday with an extensive legislative agenda in both Houses.
In the Lok Sabha, the government is set to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to replace an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37.
The House is also scheduled to take up obituary references, Question Hour, ministerial statements, papers to be laid on the Table and other listed business.
In the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to introduce a Bill proposing amendments to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, including provisions to make obstruction or insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence.
The Upper House will also consider motions relating to parliamentary committees, including appointments to the Joint Committee examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Monsoon Session: Key Bills the Centre plans to push in Parliament
The Opposition is expected to raise multiple issues during the session, including the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and alleged irregularities linked to donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has submitted a Rule 267 notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak, while Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala has sought a debate on the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Temple.
The session is also expected to witness the parliamentary debut of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), formed by rebel Trinamool Congress MPs aligned with the NDA.
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