FUTURE

• Need for new navigation policies: India has the SatCom policy and
Remote Sensing Data Policy (RSDP) but they need suitable modi cations
for the purpose of IN-SPACe to perform its duty in an e ective manner
• Changes needed in New Space India Limited (NSIL): It needs to be
recalibrated to transform its approach of a supply-driven model to being a
demand-driven model for space-based services
• Enhancing ease of doing space business: Space activities are multi-
layered projects which involve a lot of intricacies across domains, such as
gaining access to frequencies, licensing of satellites for operation, ability to
export products, imagery
• Updation of Space Regulation: Space legislation is needed for enabling
coherence across technical, legal, commercial, diplomatic and defence
goals.
• India’s space vision also needs to address global governance, regulatory
and arms control issues.

The privatisation of the Indian space sector has opened up newer

opportunities. Read here to know more about the opening up of the Indian
space program.
The Indian Space program is characterized by a vision to use space technology for
national development.
The primary objective of the space program is to establish operational space
services in a self-reliant manner in the thrust areas of satellite communication,
satellite-based resource survey/management, satellite navigation, satellite
meteorological applications, and other emerging areas and to carry out sustained
research and development in these areas.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Department of Space (DOS) is responsible for the administration of the Indian
Space Programme. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a premier
research and development organization under the Department of Space.
ISRO is responsible for-
• Research and development as well as execution of projects related to
space science, technology, and applications.
• Research and development in cutting-edge technologies.
• To address the vast areas of the mandate, depending on specialized
technical areas of activity, di erent Centres and Units have been created by
ISRO, with high technology infrastructure.
To enable enhanced participation of Indian Industries in taking up high-tech space-
related activities, the Government of India has incorporated NewSpace India
Limited (NSIL), a wholly-owned Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under
the administrative control of the Department of Space.
Privatisation of Indian Space Sector
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In June 2020 the government announced a new organization, IN-SPACe, part of
reforms to increase private participation in the space sector. A look at its
objectives, and what it means to the future of space exploration.

To enhance the di usion of space technology and boost the space economy within
the country, the Department of Space (DOS) is encouraging the participation of
private companies in space activities.
ISRO shall complement DOS in its objective of opening up the space sector to
private industries. In this regard, the following reforms are proposed in the mode of
execution of space activities in the country:
• To enhance utilization and maximize bene ts from the space assets, it is
proposed to change the approach from the “Supply Based Model” to the
“Demand-Based Model”. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) will act as the
aggregator of user requirements and obtain commitments.
• NSIL to take ownership from DOS for operational launch vehicles,
commercialize launches, satellites, and services.
• Permit non-government private entities (NGPE)’s to carry out space
activities through an Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation
center (IN-SPACe).
• ISRO to carry out capacity building in the Space domain through the
development of new technologies and capabilities and enable sharing of
facilities by NSIL and NGPEs.
• Announcement of Opportunities for NGPEs o ering challenges in new
domains of technology.
Why private participation in the space sector?
Indian space has had the participation of private sectors on small scale for a long
time. A large part of the manufacturing and fabrication of rockets and satellites
happens in the private sector. There is increasing participation of research
institutions as well.
But the Indian industry had a bare 3% share in a rapidly growing global space
economy which is already worth at least $360 billion. Only 2% of this market is for
rocket and satellite launch services, which require fairly large infrastructure and
heavy investment. The remaining 95% related to satellite-based services, and
ground-based systems.
• Indian industry is unable to compete because till now its role has been
mainly that of suppliers of components and sub-systems.
• Indian industries do not have the resources or the technology to undertake
independent space projects of the kind that US companies such as SpaceX
have been doing or provide space-based services.
• The demand for space-based applications and services is growing even
within India, and ISRO is unable to cater to this.
• The need for satellite data, imageries, and space technology now cut
across sectors, from weather to agriculture to transport to urban
development and more.
• There is a need for greater dispersion of space technologies, better
utilization of space resources, and increased requirement of space-based
services.
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 Several Indian companies are waiting to make use of these opportunities and a
few companies are in the process of developing their launch vehicles, the rockets
like ISRO’s PSLV that carry the satellites and other payloads into space.
Hence, the need for the expanding space sector and readiness of private sector
players have given the idea encouragement. ISRO is also ready to provide all its
facilities to private players whose projects had been approved by IN-SPACe.
Private companies could even build their launchpad within the Sriharikota launch
station, and ISRO would provide the necessary land for that.
IN-SPACe: Interface between ISRO and Private Parties
IN-SPACe is supposed to be a facilitator, and also a regulator. It will act as an
interface between ISRO and private parties and assess how best to utilize India’s
space resources and increase space-based activities.
• IN-SPACe is the second space organization created by the government in
the last two years.
• In the 2019 Budget, the government had announced the setting up of a
New Space India Limited (NSIL), a public sector company that would serve
as a marketing arm of ISRO.
• Its main purpose is to market the technologies developed by ISRO and
bring more clients that need space-based services.
• Antrix Corporation, another PSU working under the Department of Space,
will be handling ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles
with foreign customers.
IN-SPACE is a signi cant step in the space sector development in India-
• IN-SPACe will provide a level playing eld for private companies to use
Indian space infrastructure.
• These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on new technologies,
exploration missions, and human space ight programs.
• Allowing industries and others like students, researchers, or academic
bodies greater access to space assets would lead to much better utilization
of Indian space resources.
• IN-SPACe will attempt to enhance the activities, including access to space
assets data and activities
• It will propel the Indian Industry as an important player in the global space
economy.
• There is also an opportunity for large-scale employment in the technology
sector and India becoming a powerhouse.
Digantara: India’s rst in-orbit space debris monitoring
• Digantara Research and Technology, a space tech startup was selected for
the SID (Society for Innovation and Development) incubation program at
IISc, Bengaluru.
• Digantara is India’s rst air and space surveillance company.
• It developed India’s rst in-orbit space debris monitoring and tracking
system based on LIDAR (light detection and ranging) technology.
• It will provide global real-time earth coverage by deploying a constellation
of cost-e cient nanosatellites in LEO (Low Earth orbit) and a space-based
air surveillance payload for accurate tracking of both aircraft and space
objects.
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• Digantara will help international space agencies track and map space
debris and minimize the threat to future space exploration.
Advantages of privatisation of Indian space sector
The private participation will help give the Indian space sector the boost and pace
it needs to match up to other mature space agencies like NASA.
• Commercial and strategic advantages are two of the major reasons.
• The private industry will spare time for ISRO to concentrate on science,
research and development, interplanetary exploration, and strategic
launches.
• Private players can take up routine and commercial activities, launching
weather and communication satellites, etc, hence helping ISRO give more
time to space research.
• The economic bene ts are immense in the future which can be shared by
the private sector and ISRO, and ISRO can only gain by making its facilities
and data available to private players.
There are several ambitious space missions lined up in the coming years, including
a mission to observe the Sun, a mission to the Moon, a human space ight, and
then, possibly, a human landing on the Moon. And to achieve all this ISRO needs
the help and back up by opening up to the private sector.
Challenges for privatisation of Indian space sector
• The extensive brain drain from India is signi cant in the space and
aerospace sector, mainly because India is still a marginal force on the global
space platform.
• The policy bottlenecks make it di cult for private space companies and
entrepreneurs to acquire investors, making it almost impossible to operate
in India.
• The absence of a framework to give openness and clarity in rules is one of
the reasons for the lack of independent private participation in space.
• Another critical aspect is the absence of space law, insurance, and
indemnity clarity, and that which organization assumes obligation in the
event of a mistake.
• Many private businesses are already active in equipment and frame
fabrication, using either outsourced specs or leased licenses.
Way forward
The space sector can play a catalytic role in the technological advancement and
expansion of the Indian industrial base. India is among a few countries with
advanced capabilities in the space sector hence with the reforms, the sector will
receive new energy and dynamism, to help the country leapfrog to the next stages
of space activities. And there need more steps to make the Indian space sector an
inclusive and successful venture:
• Clearer laws and investor con dence need to be ensured and de ned.
• Align the sectors and subsectors, value chains, etc with the Outer Space
Treaty.
• Dividing activities further into upstream and downstream space blocks,
hence streamlining the process for new private players.
• Providing a good foundation to products and services developed by the
non-governmental and private sectors within the value chain.
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• For creating value, Indian space private companies need to generate their
intellectual property for an independent product or service.