The Privatisation Misconception
Recent conversations about India’s space programme have been filled with terms like “privatisation,” causing concern among employees and the public alike. However, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has firmly stated that the agency is not being privatised. It
will remain a government organisation, funded by public investment. The confusion stems from a strategic shift in how India approaches its space activities. The goal is not to sell off ISRO, but to expand the entire space ecosystem. For decades, ISRO has been the sole driver of India's space ambitions, from designing rockets to launching satellites. This new chapter involves inviting private companies to take over more routine manufacturing and operational tasks, a model that has been in development for several years.
A New Division of Labour
The core of this new strategy, outlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023, is a clearer division of roles. ISRO is tasked with transitioning out of manufacturing operational systems that have already matured. Think of it this way: ISRO develops the groundbreaking recipe, perfects it, and then hands it over to the industry to handle mass production. For instance, the technology for the workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is being transferred to private and public sector undertakings. This frees up ISRO’s brilliant minds and resources from repetitive production cycles. This shift is also a practical necessity. India has ambitious targets, including a potential 50 launches per year, a goal ISRO acknowledges it cannot meet alone. Involving private players is about building capacity for the entire nation.
Enter IN-SPACe: The Great Enabler
To manage this new public-private synergy, the government established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in 2020. Functioning as a single-window agency, IN-SPACe is the main interface between ISRO and Non-Government Entities (NGEs). Its job is to promote, authorise, and supervise the activities of private companies, from building launch vehicles to operating satellites. It ensures that private players can use ISRO's world-class facilities and infrastructure in a structured manner, creating a level playing field. This framework is designed to boost India’s share in the global space economy, which is currently less than two per cent, with projections to grow from around $9 billion to over $40 billion in the next decade.
ISRO's Focus on the Final Frontier
By offloading routine tasks, ISRO is positioning itself to focus on what it does best: pioneering research and tackling complex, strategic missions. The agency’s future lies in pushing the boundaries of science and technology. This includes flagship projects like the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts into orbit, and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035. Furthermore, ISRO will lead deep-space exploration, with missions planned for Mars and Venus, and develop next-generation technologies like reusable launch vehicles. These are high-risk, high-reward endeavours that are the natural domain of a national space agency, rather than a commercial enterprise. It will also continue to handle critical national security and strategic missions.
