UNITED NATIONS, Oct 21: India has called for outer space to remain a domain of international cooperation rather than confrontation, advocating a legally binding global agreement to prevent an arms race beyond Earth.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee on Tuesday, Member of Parliament Sudha Murty said India’s space programme serves both developmental and security objectives, highlighting the importance of ensuring that space activities remain peaceful and responsible.
“India believes that outer space belongs to all of us. We are one Earth, one family with one future. It is our view that outer space should remain a realm for cooperation, not conflict,” Murty said while delivering India’s statement on the issue.
She noted that the growing participation of new actors in space activities, alongside the increasing use of technologies with both civilian and military applications, had made space security a more complex international concern.
Murty acknowledged that countries continued to differ over the best approach to preventing an arms race in outer space and determining which measures should receive priority.
India reiterated its support for a universally acceptable and verifiable, legally binding instrument on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS). New Delhi believes such an agreement should be negotiated multilaterally through the Conference on Disarmament.
While supporting universal, non-discriminatory and non-binding norms, along with transparency and confidence-building measures, India maintained that these initiatives should complement rather than replace a legally enforceable international framework.
Murty stressed that discussions on space security must address threats to the safety, security and long-term sustainability of outer space in a comprehensive manner. The risks of misunderstanding, miscalculation and disputes over what constitutes the use of force in space must also be examined together.
“A selective focus on some threats or others would be counterproductive,” she said, pointing to the difficulties involved in verifying space-related activities, including obtaining access to relevant information and data.
She further underlined the importance of respecting the mandates of different international forums dealing with space security, safety and sustainability. Overlapping responsibilities and the creation of multiple standards addressing the same issues should be avoided, she added.
Highlighting the interests of developing countries, Murty said international efforts to strengthen space security must not obstruct the exchange of scientific knowledge and technological research for peaceful and legitimate purposes.
She also outlined India’s growing capabilities in space exploration, recalling the country’s successful lunar landing in 2023. India is preparing to advance its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, and has plans to establish its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
Murty is part of the second cohort of Indian parliamentarians visiting the United Nations for a familiarisation programme. During their stay, the lawmakers are scheduled to interact with officials at UN headquarters, senior United Nations representatives, diplomats and members of the Indian diaspora.