Factsheet Details:

Department of Space

Unlocking the Space Sector – on the path to Atmanirbhar Bharat

Posted On: 03 NOV 2021 15:36 PM

“There should be no ‘space’ between common man and space technology.”

PM Shri Narendra Modi

Context: Need for reforms

The global space economy is currently valued at about USD 360 billion. Despite being among a few spacefaring nations in the world, India accounts for only about 2% of the space economy. Over the last two decades, the private sector has played an increasingly important role in other spacefaring countries within the global space economy. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and Arianespace have revolutionized the space sector by reducing costs and turnaround time, with innovation and advanced technology. In India however, players within the private space industry have been limited to being vendors or suppliers to the government’s space program. Promoting the private sector will enable the Indian space program to remain cost competitive within the global space market, and thus create several jobs in the space and other related sectors.

Hon’ble Prime Minister strongly believes that the optimal utilization of space technologies can revolutionize delivery of governance services and boost developmental efforts.

Guiding Principles of Reforms

Enable and promote private enterprises to carry out independent space activities by enabling ease of business through single-window mechanisms, with predictable timelines.
Open up ISRO Infrastructure and Technologies
- Facilities pertaining to testing, tracking and telemetry, launch-pads, and laboratories, created by ISRO to enable the private space industry to climb the value chain.

Inspire Youngsters and dreamers. Encouraging students to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
Public sector to focus on research and development work

Public sector laboratories in the space sector will focus on research and development, while manufacturing and commercial activities will be done by business entities, across both, the public and private sector.
Previously developed and already mature technologies/ platforms to be transferred to the private sector through Transfer of Technology mechanisms.

Demand-driven approach for development of space assets
- Creation of new assets to be made contingent on confirmation of demand from user agencies/ entities.

Implementation Strategy

Opening the Space Sector

Sharing of ISRO facilities
Establishment of facilities in Department of Space (DoS) premises
Launch campaign and launch
Space-based services
Building of launch vehicle and satellites
Setting up of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
Created IN-SPACe, as a single-window, independent, nodal agency.
Provide a stable regulatory and policy environment
New business-friendly policy frameworks in areas like remote-sensing, satellite communication, and launch policies have been initiated.

Enhancing the role of New Space India Ltd (NSIL)

NSIL to act as the exclusive public-sector aggregator for both demand and supply of space assets/ services on a commercial basis, including imaging, communication transponders, launch services etc.
As a demand aggregator, NSIL will acquire satellites, launch vehicles, and other assets developed by ISRO or the private industry
As a supply aggregator, NSIL will commercialize assets and services like transponder capacity, imaging services, launch capacity etc., on ISRO-developed satellites and launch vehicles.
Announcement of future opportunities for private sector
ISRO to identify and announce future opportunities in selected science and exploration missions for private sector participation.
Private sector participation to be promoted through part funding by the government.
ISRO to share best-practices, protocols, and relevant technical expertise with the private sector

Transfer of Technologies from Public to Private Sector

NSIL to have an important role in transfer of technologies/platforms from the public to private sector.
Platforms like PSLV and SSLV have been identified for transfer of technology to the private sector

Impact of reforms

Industries, start-ups, and academia have welcomed space sector reforms, and the new IN-SPACe mechanism.
More than 40 proposals from start-ups, MSMEs and industries received for future consideration by IN-SPACe.
New Indian Space Association has been created to function as the advisory and advocacy group for the Space industry.
On 28 February 2021, NSILconducted its first commercial launch which put 19 satellites into orbit on the PSLV-C51 launch vehicle, including 4 satellites through IN-SPACe
6 space technology incubational centres operational at Agartala, Trichy, Jalandhar, Rourkela, Nagpur, and Bhopal.