Currently, space cooperative documents have been signed with 61 countries and 5 multilateral bodies. The major areas of cooperation are Satellite Remote Sensing, Satellite Navigation, Satellite Communications, Space Science and Planetary Exploration and Capacity Building.

 The Government has taken the following measures to encourage and incentivize private sector participation in space exploration and technology development in India:

The space sector has been liberalized and private sector allowed to carry out end to end space activities.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was created in Department of Space for promoting, authorizing and overseeing the activities of Non-Government Entities (NGEs) in Space Sector.

The Indian Space Policy - 2023 has been formulated by the Government to provide regulatory certainty to space activities by various stakeholders, in order to create a thriving space ecosystem.

Various schemes to encourage and hand hold private sector also announced and implemented by IN-SPACe, i.e., Seed fund Scheme, Pricing Support Policy, Mentorship support, Technical Centre, Design Lab for NGEs, Skill Development in Space Sector, ISRO facility utilization support, Technology Transfer to NGEs, creation of IN-SPACe Digital Platform to connect with all the stakeholders of space ecosystem etc.

The number of Space Start-Ups have gone up, from just 1 in 2014 to around 266 as on date.

IN-SPACe has signed around 71 MoUs with Non-Government Entities (NGEs) to provide necessary support for realization of space systems and applications envisaged by such NGEs, which is expected to increase the industry participation in manufacturing of launch vehicles and satellites.

In order to ease access to foreign capital by Indian NGEs, the Government of India has brought out revised FDI policy for Space Sector.

Decadal vision and strategy for Indian space economy is also announced by IN-SPACe, which shall increase the share of India in overall space economy.

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Rs.1000 crore Venture Capital (VC) Fund dedicated to supporting India's space sector.

IN-SPACe has initiated Establishment of Earth Observation (EO) System under Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Expression of Interest (EOI) is invited from Non-Government Entities (NGEs).

Technology Transfer of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to Indian entities is under process and response to RFP is invited from shortlisted bidders.

Announcement of Opportunity is made by IN-SPACe for making available Indian orbital resources to the NGEs. Bid is under consideration.

ISRO pursues international collaboration with the objectives of enhancing the capacity of the Indian space programme for advancing programmatic priorities, augmenting space science and earth observation data base, widening ground station networks, bettering products and services through joint experiments and creating platforms for inflow of expertise.

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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