Ashwini Vaishnaw said all preparatory steps towards this have been approved and Venus Orbiter Mission, Gaganyaan follow-on and Bharatiya Antariksh Station and Next Generation Launch Vehicle development also given approval.

Cabinet approves Bharatiya Antariksh Station, first module to launch in 2028

In a boost to the space programme, the government on Wednesday approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission to bring back moon rocks to earth, to send a spacecraft to orbit planet Venus and to expand the Gaganyaan project to build an Indian space station.

The government has approved ISRO's ambitious Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), set for launch in March 2028. This mission aims to study Venus' surface, atmosphere, and volcanic activity, furthering India's space exploration goals.

ISRO will lead these missions with substantial support from Indian industries and academic institutions. The developments are expected to not only boost India’s space sector but also create significant employment and economic opportunities across various industries.

The Union Cabinet has approved space missions totalling Rs 31,772 crores paving the way for the roadmap for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) till almost 2040.