(a) whether the national panel of experts looking into various aspects of mission to moon has submitted its report to the Government;
(b) if so, the broad outlines of the report ; and
(c) the manner in which the mission to moon would help the common man and the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES,
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND
PENSIONS, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND DEPARTMENT OF SPACE (SMT. VASUNDHARA RAJE)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) The proposed mission to moon is expected to provide an impetus to the advancement of science in India, a challenge to technologists and a possible new dimension to international cooperation. The mission can also serve as a test bed for future missions that could be undertaken by India to explore the outer world in the new millennium, thus providing challenging opportunities to the younger generation scientists of the country. The mission is also expected to result in the development of new technologies that could have various spin-off applications, which could be of direct relevance to the common man.