Indian history will remember October, 2008.

123 agreement (civilian nuclear cooperation between India and the US) having been cleared in the US senate, stage has been set for India to enter into a new world where they join shoulders with so called developed countries. Second milestone that India is about to cross in this month the proposed unmanned moon mission (Chadrayan I) of India.

Getting to have civilian nuclear cooperation waiver (from Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG) allows India to have NSG countries establish nuclear power plants and engage in other nuclear related trade. This is a huge achievement with tremendous foresight in place.

Since 1993 when the Government of India opened their markets to the outsiders, economy has been growing robustly. New industries have been set up, employment opportunities have increased and people have increased disposable income at hand. All this lead to increased demands on India’s energy needs. Currently majority of India’s energy needs are met by burning fossil fuels such as coal. Problem with the coal is that it is not available in perpetuity nor is it clean. Some day India will run out of it and by then environmental pollution may have reached its breaking point.

With the civilian nuclear agreement being signed with France (country that produces 80% of their power through nuclear energy), it is expected that huge investments will be made in India in nuclear power plants where by energy needs can be met and environment around us can be protected. This will have ripple effects on Indian economy by increased employment, increased investment in industry and increased consumer demand.

Chadrayan 1 is the first unmanned moon mission of India. It is not the long term plan of landing an Indian on the moon is what Indians are excited about but the consequent technological advancements that would commercially be spun off for the benefit of common man. No country in the world had utilized the space technology as effectively as India did. They have made it a tool in the field of education (primary and professional), healthcare, remote sensing and agriculture etc.

With the success of Chandran mission, India should develop avenues for more people to become entrepreneurs to establish businesses where by they touch upon the needs of common people.

These two achievements will leapfrog India into a league of few countries that call themselves as ‘Developed Nations’ and India will always remember October of 2008 as the reason for it.