- In 2014 PM Narendra Modi surprised India’s Space scientists by asking them to develop a SAARC satellite.
- Now the statellite was renamed as SOUTH ASIA satellite.
- Isro’s Rs 450 crore communications satellite (Gsat-9) services will be free for India’s neighbours, except Pakistan.
- The satellite gives services in the areas of telecommunications and broadcasting.
- With the launch nearing, Modi said in his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday that his slogan ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ extended outside the country
- Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to be part of this mission.
- Natural resources mapping, tele-medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact — this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region.
