The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) on Sunday rejected claims of a possible move to privatise the agency or reduce its role, days after reports said nine associations representing thousands of ISRO employees had sought clarification over a proposal to hand the space agency’s manufacturing and operational work to private entities.
“These assertions are completely baseless and incorrect. “What is changing is not the importance of ISRO, but the scale and structure of India’s space ecosystem. “The reforms should therefore be seen as ecosystem expansion and capability multiplication, not privatisation.
In a letter dated September 4 and addressed to ISRO chairman and Department of Space (DoS) secretary V Narayanan , the associations asked for clarity on the government’s privatisation policy, the agency’s future role, and how the proposed changes could affect existing staff and future recruitment, HT reported earlier .
We wish to categorically state that ISRO will neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished,” the space agency said in a statement. It said that the private-sector participation in space would not reduce ISRO’s role, but would allow the agency to focus more closely on the next phase of India’s space programme while private industry expands proven technologies and capabilities. ISRO said industry, start-ups and academic institutions are being encouraged to take part across the space sector, while adding to and expanding its existing capabilities.
ISRO’s Continued Leadership in Space Research
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reaffirmed its role as the leading institution for advanced space research and technology development in India. The organization will focus on national and strategic missions, space science, exploration, and the enhancement of critical space capabilities. This commitment underscores ISRO’s significance in shaping the future of India’s space endeavors.
