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🇸🇬 Singapore /Technology

ISRO seeks to calm concerns over India’s push to privatise space activities

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • India’s space agency said it will remain the country’s principal institution for advanced research, strategic missions and space exploration.
  • The statement followed an employee association letter seeking clarity over reports that some manufacturing and operational responsibilities could move to private and state-run companies.
  • The government has expanded private-sector participation since 2020, including rocket manufacturing and technology transfers.

India’s space agency has moved to reassure employees that a growing private-sector role will not diminish its central position in the country’s space programme.

ISRO will continue to remain India's principal institution for advanced space research and technology development, national and strategic missions, space science and exploration, and critical and frontier space capabilities.

· Indian Space Research OrganisationISRO described its continuing role in India’s space programme.

The Indian Space Research Organisation said it would remain the principal institution for advanced space research and technology development, national and strategic missions, space science and exploration, and critical and frontier capabilities. It also said it would “neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished”.

The statement followed a Sept. 4 letter from an ISRO staff association to Chairman V. Narayanan. Employees sought clarity over reports that manufacturing and operational responsibilities currently handled by the agency could be transferred to companies. They also asked about recent comments on privatising some ISRO activities, saying the Department of Space had issued no formal communication.

neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished

· Indian Space Research OrganisationThe agency sought to reassure staff about the effects of space-sector reforms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has sought greater private-sector participation since opening India’s space sector to private companies in 2020. Companies have increasingly taken on rocket manufacturing and other work previously dominated by ISRO. A consortium led by Hindustan Aeronautics and Larsen & Toubro is producing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, while the government has transferred Small Satellite Launch Vehicle technology to Hindustan Aeronautics.

ISRO's role is by no means diminishing. It will remain the bedrock of Indian space sector

· Pawan GoenkaThe IN-SPACe chairman defended the agency’s position amid expanding private-sector participation.

Pawan Goenka, chairman of space regulator IN-SPACe, said ISRO’s role was “by no means diminishing” and would remain the foundation of India’s space sector. He said the reforms were intended to expand the country’s overall space ecosystem.

The reforms since 2020 are about expanding India's overall space ecosystem

· Pawan GoenkaGoenka explained the government’s rationale for increasing private involvement.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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