India today successfully launched five foreign satellites from four countries on board PSLV-C23 rocket which placed them in orbit. The five satellites, launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, include two from Germany, and one each from France, Canada and Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who witnessed the lift off, congratulated the scientists for the successful launch. Addressing the scientists, Mr Modi said, all the citizens of India should have pride in India’s advance in space technology which has given India a special place among a few select nations of the world.

He said, today's launch of five foreign satellites a global endorsement of India's space capability.

The Prime Minister said, technology is fundamentally connected with the common man.

Appreciating the hardwork of the scientists of four generations in keeping the pace with the technology, Narendra Modi appealed to them to develop a space technology which could be handed over as a gift for the SAARC Countries.

Mr.Modi later met all the scientists at the Mission control centre and congratulated them.

President Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, for the successful launch of PSLV-C23. In his message, Mr Mukherjee said, the nation is proud of this important achievement.

He described it as a significant milestone in the progress of the country's space capabilities.