This book provides a general overview as well as country-specific details of the role that space technology is currently playing and can potentially play in enhancing human lives and fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in selected South Asian countries. Focusing on the unique requirements and situations that exist in each of the selected countries, it provides country-specific analysis and recommendations. Analysis of national policies and laws have been carried out so as to maximize the benefits of space technology, with a view to making this sector a potent enabler and contributor in each country’s march toward attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, thereby to overall development.

Professor Ram S. Jakhu is a Professor (Post-Retirement) at the Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Prior to his retirement on 31 August 2024, he held several positions, including tenured Full Professor. For the last 40 years, he has been teaching and conducting research in international space law, the law of space commercialisation, space safety and security, national regulation of space activities, the law of telecommunications, and public international law. In addition, he has provided consultation to several private and governmental entities and drafted national laws and regulations of various countries. He is the Project Director and Co-Editor of the McGill Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS Project) and the Project Director of the Project on Sustainable Development in South Asian Countries.

Professor Jakhu served as the Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law of McGill University. He was the first Director of the Master of Space Studies Programme of International Space University, Strasbourg, France; member of the Global Agenda Council on Space of the World Economic Forum; member of the Governance Group of the Space Security Index, member of the Advisor Group of Legal Experts on Optional Rules for Arbitration of Disputes Relating to Outer Space within the Permanent Court of Arbitration; member of the Board of Directors of International Institute of Space Law, and member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. He co-authored three books, over 150 articles, 70 research reports and edited 13 books.

He received in 2025 the “Silver Medal for Significant Contribution to Space Law” from the Cologne Institute of Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law; in 2024, the “Life-Long Dedication to the IASL, the Advancement of Space Law and Education of the Next Generation” Award from the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL); in 2024, the honorific title of Director Emeritus of Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill Faculty of Law; in 2024, the honorific designation of Professor Emeritus, McGill Faculty of Law; in 2022, the “Excellence in Supervision and Mentorship Award” from Graduate Law Student Association of the McGill Faculty of Law; in 2016, the “Leonardo da Vinci Life-Long Achievement Award” from the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety; in 2011, the Book Award from the International Academy of Astronautics; and in 2007, the “Distinguished Service Award” from the IISL for significant contribution to the development of space law.

He holds a Doctor of Civil Law (Ph.D. equivalent; Dean’s Honours List) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees in Air and Space from McGill University, Canada, as well as LL.M., LL.B., and B.A. degrees from Panjab University, India.

Dr. Upasana Dasgupta is an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat, India. She has taught courses such as International Law of Outer Space, Public International Law, and Legal Research Methodology. She has also taught a course on domestic space laws at the Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada and a course on India’s role in global governance of space activities at National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, India as Visiting Professor.

Dr. Dasgupta holds a B.A., LL.B. (Hons) from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow, India (gold medallist). Dr. Dasgupta also holds a Doctor of Civil Law (Ph.D. equivalent; Recipient, George S. & Ann K. Robinson Space Law Prize) and a Master of Air and Space Law degree from the Institute of Air and Space Law and the Faculty of Law, McGill University, Canada. Her postdoctoral research at the Canada Research Chair in International Political Economy, Université Laval, Quebec, explored the intersection of law and political science, focusing on diverse interpretations of the common benefit principle among space actors.

She is the Vice-Chair and a Board member of Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide), a non-profit organisation promoting equitable space laws and policies, where she leads the Space and Sustainability Compact Agreement Initiative in South Asia. Dr. Dasgupta is also actively engaged with the International Astronautical Federation Technical Committee on Space Traffic Management, the International Academy of Astronautics Committee on Space Debris, and the International Institute of Space Law.

Prior to working as an academic, Dr. Dasgupta worked as a legal associate in two of India’s leading law firms - Argus Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

Dr. Shakeel Ahmad is an independent scholar. Earlier, he held the position of Research Associate and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University, Canada. He holds interdisciplinary degrees in both international law and international relations. He earned his LL.M. in International Law from the Law School of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and his Ph.D. in international law from the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, China. He held a research fellow position at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, USA. Further, Shakeel served as Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations and focal person for the Center of International Law at the National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan.