What is the New Exit Protocol?
The Department of Space (DoS) issued a memorandum in July 2026 that significantly tightens the procedure for scientists and engineers wishing to resign or take voluntary retirement. Previously, directors of individual ISRO centres could approve exits
for many scientists. Under the new rules, this authority has been revoked. Now, any resignation or voluntary retirement request from a Group 'A' scientific or technical employee, particularly those involved in critical national projects like the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, will not be accepted as a routine matter. Instead, every single request must be forwarded to the Department of Space in Delhi, along with recommendations from the centre director, for a final decision. This effectively centralises the entire exit process, adding a layer of high-level scrutiny that did not exist before.
Why Was the Policy Changed?
The change was a direct response to what the DoS described as a "spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation" from key scientific personnel. Official memos state that this trend was "severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance." Reports suggest that between 100 and 120 scientists, many with mission-critical expertise, have left ISRO in recent months from vital hubs like the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The departures reportedly include senior figures who held irreplaceable knowledge on flagship programmes. The government's stated goal is to prevent these sudden exits from disrupting the timelines and continuity of India's most ambitious space missions.
The 'Brain Drain' to the Private Sector
The stricter rules come as ISRO faces unprecedented competition for talent from India's own booming private space sector. Since the government opened the space industry to private participation in 2020, hundreds of startups like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos have emerged. These firms, often well-funded and agile, are actively recruiting experienced ISRO personnel. They offer significantly higher salaries—sometimes two to three times the government pay—along with employee stock options, faster career growth, and the chance to lead projects with less bureaucracy. For many scientists, the allure of building new technologies from the ground up in a fast-paced environment presents a compelling alternative to the rigid structures and slower promotion cycles of a government organisation.
A Guide for a Departing Scientist
For a scientist at ISRO now considering a move, the path has become more complex. The first step remains submitting a formal request for resignation or voluntary retirement. However, the approval is no longer at the discretion of the local centre director. The request will be evaluated based on the scientist's involvement in critical projects. If they are linked to a high-priority mission like Gaganyaan, the directive clearly states that the request should not be accepted routinely until the project's realisation. The application will be escalated to the Department of Space, which will make the final call. This means potentially longer waiting periods and a higher chance of the request being deferred or denied to ensure project stability. This policy shift underscores the need for any scientist planning an exit to account for these new, centralised hurdles and potential delays in their career transition plans.
Implications for India's Space Ambitions
The revised protocol highlights a fundamental tension in India's space policy: the desire to foster a world-class private space ecosystem while also maintaining the strength of its foundational state-run agency. Critics argue that making it harder for scientists to leave does not address the root causes of their departure, such as pay gaps and organisational culture. However, officials maintain the move is necessary to protect national assets and ensure institutional knowledge isn't lost at critical junctures. The long-term challenge for India will be to find a balance. It needs to allow the natural flow of talent that fuels innovation in the private sector without hollowing out the very institution—ISRO—that created the expertise in the first place. This new protocol is a short-term measure to manage the immediate brain drain, but a longer-term strategy addressing talent retention will be crucial for the future of the entire Indian space ecosystem.
