Hindi English Translation || Editorial || The next frontier: On India’s space sector

The next frontier: On India’s space sector

The government must keep the regulatory (नियामक) environment of space sector clear

Space used to be the final frontier (सीमा) but its increasing exploration (survey, research, examination, investigation (of an area for natural resources)) has changed that, replacing a romantic notion (धारणा, विचार) with narratives (a representation of a particular situation; portrayal, account, description, statement) with financial, socio-economic (सामाजिक-आर्थिक), and geopolitical (भू-राजनैतिक) implications (consequence, outcome, ramification, repercussion). Space technologies and space flight (अंतरिक्ष उड़ान) are expensive, risky endeavours (प्रयास) that only national agencies were suited to engage in (participate in, take part in, go in for) for decades (दशक). This is no longer true as private sector players are increasingly (तेजी, लगातार अधिक) expected to complement (पूरक), augment (increase, supplement, enhance, improve, reinforce, enlarge), and/or lead the way (take the initiative, make a start, lay the foundation, take the first step) by identifying market opportunities (बाज़ार अवसर) and innovating rapidly. India started on this path in 2020 with state-led (राज्य के नेतृत्व) reforms that opened its space sector to private companies, then releasing the ‘Geospatial (भू-स्थानिक) Guidelines’ and later the ‘Indian Space Policy (भारतीय अंतरिक्ष नीति)’, creating the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), and passing the Telecommunications Act 2023 (An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto) that, among other departures (deviation, divergence, digression, shift, variation, change) from the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (An Act to amend the law relating to Telegraphs in India. Part I deals with definitions of key words used in the Telegraph Act. Part II deals with privileges and powers of the government), provided for satellite broadband services. On February 21, the government opened the door to 100% foreign direct investments (FDI) (प्रत्यक्ष विदेशी निवेश) in the “manufacturing of components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment” — up to 74% in satellite-manufacturing, operations, and data products; and up to 49% in launch vehicles, space ports (a site/base for launching spacecraft), and their corresponding (similar, correlative, comparable, related, equivalent) systems. As such (in the exact meaning of the thing (word/phrase) just mentioned), by stepping out of the way and allowing substantial (considerable, sizeable, significant, appreciable) FDI via the automatic route, the government has taken the logical next step in spurring (encourage, prompt, propel, motivate, inspire, urge, galvanize) the contributions of private space flight operators, technology-developers, and application designers to the national space economy, in line with (in agreement with, in alignment with, in accordance with) ambitions outlined (indicate, summarize) in the Space Policy.

The decision gives India the ability to take advantage of (make use of, utilize, use, capitalize on, benefit from, cash in on) its less vitiated (impaired, spoiled, ruined) foreign ties (association, relationship, bond, connection) to catch up (reach, gain on, come to, draw level, succeed in reaching (the same standard, stage, or level of others)) with China’s more advanced position as a space power. While the Chinese programme benefits from not-inconsiderable ((of size/amount of something) large/big enough to be considered important) private sector participation, its ability to attract (draw, absorb, get/gain) foreign investments is hamstrung (restrict, cripple, hinder, obstruct, slow down (the ability or efficiency of someone/something); to make ineffective, to make powerless) by its belligerent (aggressive, threatening, combative, quarrelsome, argumentative, contentious, bellicose) foreign policies and the Xi Jinping administration’s plan to modernise (make more efficient, simplify, reorganize) the military by, among other things (used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all), adapting civilian (non-military, ordinary) technologies for military use, though other countries, including the U.S., have similar policies. According to IN-SPACe chairman Pawan K. Goenka, a “significant” slice (portion, chunk, segment) of the $37.1 billion that the space sector raised worldwide in 2021-23 went to space start-ups. Against this extended backdrop (situation, scenario, context), new investments can add to (increase, amplify, augment, boost, enhance) India’s space economy by improving start-ups’ access to talent and capital; effecting a better balance between upstream (relating to the activities of satellite manufacturing and launch services) and downstream (relating to the activities such as satellite services and associated ground segment) opportunities, versus the current skew (bias, inclination, influence) in favour of (in support of, to the advantage of, approving of) the former; boosting local manufacturing; and improving investor confidence. Finally, to sustain (continue, carry on, keep up, maintain, bolster up) these winds of change (influential events/actions that result in significant political/social changes), the government must keep the regulatory environment clear, reduce red tape (official procedure/protocol, rule, regulation), increase public support, and ease (facilitate, make easier, assist, help, aid) Indian companies’ ability to access foreign markets.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.frontier (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सीमा
English Meaning - the extreme limit of achievement in a particular area; edge, side.

2.regulatory (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - नियामक
English Meaning - relating to the control/supervision of an activity by a set of rules, laws, etc.

3.notion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - धारणा, विचार
English Meaning - idea, belief, concept, opinion, view, image, impression.

4.socio-economic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सामाजिक-आर्थिक
English Meaning - relating to the interaction of social (position, rank, or importance)and economic (income, pay, and wealth) aspects.

5.geopolitical (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - भू-राजनैतिक
English Meaning - relating to (the study of) the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources &, etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations.

6.space flight (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अंतरिक्ष उड़ान
English Meaning - space travel; a journey through space.

7.endeavour (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रयास
English Meaning - activity, pursuit, exercise, undertaking, mission; aim/effort.

8.decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

9.increasingly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - तेजी, लगातार अधिक
English Meaning - more and more, steadily more, continuously more, gradually more.

10.complement (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पूरक
English Meaning - contribute, go with, supplement, augment, enhance, add to.

11.market opportunity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बाज़ार अवसर
English Meaning - it is a need or want for a product, service, or feature that is either not being met or is underserved.

12.state-led (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य के नेतृत्व
English Meaning - managed/done by the government.

13.geospatial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - भू-स्थानिक
English Meaning - relating to a piece of information tied/connected to a particular location.

14.Indian Space Policy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भारतीय अंतरिक्ष नीति
English Meaning - it was made public on April 20, 2023 and it has said the Indian Space Research Organisation shall transition out from manufacturing operational space systems and focus its energies on research and development in advanced technologies. The Indian Space Policy 2023 was cited as an overarching, composite, and dynamic framework to implement the vision for unlocking India’s potential in the space sector through enhanced private participation. The policy aims to augment space capabilities, develop a flourishing commercial presence in space, use space as a driver of technology development and derived benefits in allied areas, pursue international relations, and create an ecosystem for effectively implementing space applications among all stakeholders.

15.foreign direct investment (FDI) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रत्यक्ष विदेशी निवेश
English Meaning - Investment from one country into another (normally by companies rather than governments) that involves establishing operations or acquiring tangible assets, including stakes in other businesses.

16.environment (noun)

English Meaning - situation, background, scenario, context, atmosphere.

17.exploration (noun)

English Meaning - survey, research, examination, investigation (of an area for natural resources).

18.space exploration (noun)

English Meaning - investigation, with the use of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft, of scientifically valuable destinations across our solar system beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Human/Civil space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system.

19.narrative (noun)

English Meaning - a representation of a particular situation; portrayal, account, description, statement.

20.implications (noun)

English Meaning - consequence, outcome, ramification, repercussion.

21.engage in (verb)

English Meaning - participate in, take part in, go in for.

22.augment (verb)

English Meaning - increase, supplement, enhance, improve, reinforce, enlarge.

23.lead the way (phrase)

English Meaning - take the initiative, make a start, lay the foundation, take the first step.

24.Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) (noun)

English Meaning - a channel/method through which non-governmental private enterprises can carry out space activities.

25.Telecommunications Act, 2023 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

26.departure (noun)

English Meaning - deviation, divergence, digression, shift, variation, change.

27.The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to amend the law relating to Telegraphs in India. Part I deals with definitions of key words used in the Telegraph Act. Part II deals with privileges and powers of the government.

28.open the door (phrase)

English Meaning - create opportunity (for success).

29.space port (noun)

English Meaning - a site/base for launching spacecraft.

30.corresponding (adjective)

English Meaning - similar, correlative, comparable, related, equivalent.

31.as such (phrase)

English Meaning - in the exact meaning of the thing (word/phrase) just mentioned.

32.step out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - leave, exit, get out, go out.

33.substantial (adjective)

English Meaning - considerable, sizeable, significant, appreciable.

34.spur (verb)

English Meaning - encourage, prompt, propel, motivate, inspire, urge, galvanize.

35.in line with (phrase)

English Meaning - in agreement with, in alignment with, in accordance with.

36.outline (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, summarize.

37.take advantage of (phrase)

English Meaning - make use of, utilize, use, capitalize on, benefit from, cash in on.

38.vitiated (adjective)

English Meaning - impaired, spoiled, ruined.

39.ties (noun)

English Meaning - association, relationship, bond, connection.

40.catch up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reach, gain on, come to, draw level, succeed in reaching (the same standard, stage, or level of others).

41.not-inconsiderable (adjective)

English Meaning - (of size/amount of something) large/big enough to be considered important.

42.attract (verb)

English Meaning - draw, absorb, get/gain.

43.hamstring (verb)

English Meaning - restrict, cripple, hinder, obstruct, slow down (the ability or efficiency of someone/something); to make ineffective, to make powerless.

44.belligerent (adjective)

English Meaning - aggressive, threatening, combative, quarrelsome, argumentative, contentious, bellicose.

45.modernise (verb)

English Meaning - make more efficient, simplify, reorganize.

46.among other things (phrase)

English Meaning - used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all.

47.civilian (adjective)

English Meaning - non-military, ordinary.

48.slice (noun)

English Meaning - portion, chunk, segment.

49.backdrop (noun)

English Meaning - situation, scenario, context.