Minerals Dev't Fund backs “Polluter Pays” approach to illegal mining; publishes first research in an international journal

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, continues to voice his dissatisfaction with the prolonged delay in launching Starlink in India. Musk, in a sarcastic remark, likened Mukesh Ambani, a leading Indian businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries, to a "Prime Minister Ambani" during a recent X post. Musk argued that Starlink's presence could bring internet access to underserved communities throughout India.

However, Mukesh Ambani's son, Akash, stated that Reliance Jio is forging ahead with its indigenous satellite broadband technology stack.

The Indian government's Ministry of Communications maintains that security assessments for all three licensed satellite operators are ongoing, with each licensee currently at a similar regulatory stage. Despite securing satellite communications licences and authorization from relevant Indian bodies in 2025, Starlink has yet to commence commercial operations in the country.

The security debate surrounding Starlink has intensified following remarks by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, who chairs a parliamentary committee, suggesting that the panel has examined Starlink's security challenges. Dubey countered Musk's criticism, asserting that India remains a sovereign nation and will not alter its security policy based on external pressures.

Former intelligence officer Yashovardhan Jha Azad suggested that the impasse is a result of commercial competition, regulatory uncertainty, and legitimate security concerns. He highlighted the need for safeguards covering traffic routing, lawful interception, and cybersecurity. Economist Lekha Chakrabarty emphasized that the problem lies in India's inability to provide predictable approval processes for foreign investments, rather than India closing its doors to such investments.