Karnataka playing key role in space technology and innovation, says Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: Karnataka has emerged as a major contributor to the growth of space technology, governance reforms, and service-based applications, said Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge on Thursday.
He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop on ‘Karnataka Space’ organised by the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology in Bengaluru.
“The global investment in the space technology sector has already crossed 400 billion dollars, and Karnataka holds a significant share in this progress,” Kharge said.
Highlighting the state’s leadership in research and innovation, the minister said Karnataka is home to India’s premier space and defence research institutions like ISRO and DRDO, which have played a crucial role in advancing national capabilities in space science and technology.
“Karnataka was among the first states in the country to set up a Remote Sensing Centre, using satellite data for governance, planning, and administration, ranging from precision agriculture and urban management to water conservation and disaster mitigation,” Kharge added.
The event was attended by Dr. N. Manjula, Secretary of the IT and BT Department, and Rahul Sharanappa Sankanoor, Managing Director of KITS, among other dignitaries.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
