Saarc satellite to be launched by March next year: ISRO

Much-awaited South Asian satellite, proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the benefit of countries of the region, will be launched in March next year, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said today.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) satellite was originally scheduled for launch in December this year, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"Saarc satellite will be launched in March," ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of southern state of Kerala, according to PTI.

READ MORE: Modi pitches for Saarc satellite

Modi had, during the Saarc summit in Nepal in November 2014, announced the South Asian satellite as a gift for the benefit of members of the regional grouping in various fields, including telecommunication and tele-medicine.

Since Pakistan has 'opted out' of the project, it is now being called South Asian satellite.

India had held deliberations with experts from other Saarc countries to finalise modalities for the satellite exclusively for the regional grouping.