Monday’s Rajya Sabha session spotlighted a bold proposal: India must forge an independent Space Force to secure its future. BJP parliamentarian Sujit Kumar from Odisha led the charge, transforming the chamber into a forum for forward-thinking defense strategy.
Kumar dissected the stakes: space governs strategic, economic, and operational realms. Enemy interference with satellites could dismantle communications, navigation, finance, and defense overnight. His rhetoric was stark—’Don’t await the quiet assault that halts our economy; forge defenses to avert it.’
Praising PM Modi’s initiatives like the Defence Space Research Organisation and anti-satellite feat, he deemed them foundational yet insufficient. Unlike the US’s formalized Space Force or China’s robust setup, India’s agency operates provisionally.
The MP called for a top-tier committee to fast-track recommendations on Space Force establishment and a warfare academy. Upcoming satellite deployments necessitate specialized, perpetual vigilance beyond conventional forces’ scope.
In an age of space as the ultimate high ground, this plea resonates deeply. Kumar’s vision positions India not just as a participant but a leader in cosmic defense, compelling policymakers to act decisively against emerging threats.