ISRO says private space push will not diminish agency’s role

India’s space agency has sought to reassure its staff that it will continue to play a key role in the country’s space programme after staff associations expressed concern over plans to transfer some of its activities to private and state-run companies, the Reuters reported.

The Indian Space Research Organisation said Sunday that it would “neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished”, rejecting reports and speculation that reforms would weaken the agency.

“ISRO will continue to remain India’s principal institution for advanced space research and technology development, national and strategic missions, space science and exploration, and critical and frontier space capabilities,” the agency said.

The statement came after Sept. 4 ISRO employee associations write to Chairman V. Narayanan for clarity  over reports that manufacturing and operational duties might be contracted out to outside companies.

The concerns come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been increasing private participation in India’s space sector, a policy launched in 2020 to encourage industry and boost the country’s competitiveness.

Hindustan Aeronautics and Larsen & Toubro are the prime manufacturers of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of ISRO and technology for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle has been transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics.

ISRO will continue to remain the “bedrock of Indian space sector”, Pawan Goenka, chairman of space regulator IN-SPACe said. He said reforms were meant to grow the overall space ecosystem.