Washington DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the Blair House in Washington DC, on Thursday.
Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was accompanied by three of his children.
He also presented the Prime Minister with a special gift, before their discussion.
Musk is likely to have mentioned Starlink’s plans for India during the meeting. Starlink’s licence application is being reviewed and pending with the Department of Telecommunications. However, the Indian government has favoured Musk’s proposal of spectrum allocation through administrative means rather than auctioning.
Indian operators have opposed the administrative allocation of spectrum, saying it will be against the ‘”level playing field” as they have acquired spectrum through bidding at a much higher cost.
On security concerns of the Indian government, it is believed that Elon Musk’s company Starlink has assured that data will be stored locally.
Musk may also also have spoken about prospects of collaboration between Space X and ISRO.
Earlier in December, Musk announced that Starlink’s satellite internet was inactive in India after authorities seized two of the company’s devices, one in an armed conflict zone and another in a drug smuggling zone.
Musk has also been lobbying to reduce tariffs on Tesla’s electric vehicles. Musk had agreed to export low-cost EV models of Tesla to India provided India reduces tariffs.
Before his meeting with Musk, PM Modi met US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz at the Blair House.