India has urged the international community to ensure that outer space remains a space for peaceful cooperation rather than conflict, calling for a legally binding international agreement to prevent an arms race beyond Earth.
Addressing the UN General Assembly First Committee on Tuesday, Member of Parliament Sudha Murty said that space should remain accessible to all nations and that international efforts must focus on cooperation and peaceful progress.
“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.
She highlighted India’s position as a major space-faring nation, noting that its space programme serves both developmental and security needs. She also pointed to the growing number of players in the space sector and the increasing use of technologies and assets that can serve both civilian and military purposes.
Murty acknowledged that countries continue to differ on how best to prevent an arms race in outer space and which approaches should take priority. She stressed the need to avoid overlapping efforts and the creation of multiple standards addressing the same issues.
As a developing country, India believes that any international agreement must protect the exchange of scientific research and technological knowledge for peaceful and legitimate purposes. The aim, she indicated, should be to strengthen global security without restricting beneficial scientific cooperation.
Murty also highlighted India’s progress in space exploration and its future ambitions. India successfully landed a spacecraft on the Moon in 2023 and is preparing for its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. The country also plans to establish its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
Murty is part of the second group of Indian parliamentarians visiting the United Nations for a familiarisation programme. During the visit, the lawmakers are scheduled to meet UN officials, diplomats and members of the Indian diaspora.
India’s appeal comes amid growing international attention on space security, with the country emphasising the need for common rules that prevent conflict while allowing peaceful exploration and technological advancement.
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