Theme: Defence | Is India prepared for emerging space warfare?

In this episode of the State of Economy Podcast, businessline's Dalip Singh speaks with Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), who shares valuable insights into India's evolving space defence strategies. With the militarisation of space accelerating globally, General Bhatt discusses how space is no longer just a domain for peaceful exploration but a vital strategic asset for national security.  The episode starts with how nations are increasingly using space for military purposes, such as satellite communication, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and navigation. General Bhatt also addresses India's space defence roadmap, emphasising the government's strategic investments, including satellite-based surveillance programs and growing collaboration with the private sector.   The discussion touches on the competition with global powers, particularly China. “China is aspiring not to compete in space with India, but to compete with USA and their concerns for ASR, for communication, for navigation are global. They want to protect and have visibility in the first chain of islands and 2nd chain of islands“  General Bhatt emphasises the importance of space situational awareness (SSA), a system that tracks satellites and debris to prevent accidents and potential threats from adversarial actions. This growing need for global cooperation in space defence, as highlighted by Bhatt, is crucial for maintaining space security.  General Bhatt goes on to explain how the new form of space warfare can disrupt communication systems and affect the overall operational integrity of a nation's space infrastructure. General Bhatt points out a critical shift : Space warfare is no longer confined to government-controlled entities, and private players have become essential in providing support during conflicts.   In conclusion, General Bhatt stresses the importance of a diversified approach to space defence. India is making strides in this area by expanding its satellite constellations and developing non-kinetic weapons for space protection.  (Host: Dalip Singh, Producer: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy) About the State of the Economy podcast India's economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders.