As the latest Indian Space Policy sets the stage for private sector participation, India’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the policy opens up the sector for enhanced participation of non-government entities across the entire value chain of the space economy.

Traditionally, the Indian space sector has been controlled by governmental organisations like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It has been in charge of India’s endeavours in space exploration and the development of satellite initiatives.

The government has set up the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) as a single-window agency for promotion and authorisation of space activities, informed the minister in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The budget allocations for IN-SPACe are as follows – Rs10 crore for 2021-22, Rs 33 crore for 2022-23, and Rs 95 crore for 2023-24.

Singh also informed that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory – India (LIGO-India) project has been approved by the government at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,600 crore, with Department of Atomic Energy as the Lead Agency.

He added that, after the completion of the project, the LIGO-India facility will be operated as a national facility for detecting gravitational waves and research in related areas of astronomy.

India’s might in the space domain is well known around the world. Notably, the country has been successful in carrying out various ground-breaking space missions and establishing its position as one of the prominent players in the field of space exploration.

In recent years, ISRO has been successful in establishing itself as a reliable and cost-effective launch partner for foreign nations. In an exclusive interview, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that India has launched 389 foreign satellites in the last nine years.

Further, by launching these foreign satellites, India has earned around USD 157 million and 223 million euros so far in the last nine years.

The Government of India unleashed reforms in space domain in 2020, opening the doors for enhanced participation of NGEs in carrying out end-to-end activities in the space domain and with an aim to provide them a level playing field.

Subsequent to these reforms, the Government seeks to provide regulatory certainty to space activities by various stakeholders, in order to create a thriving space ecosystem. The Indian Space Policy – 2023 has thus been formulated as an overarching, composite and dynamic framework to implement the reform vision approved by Cabinet.

The vision of the policy is to augment space capabilities; enable, encourage and develop a flourishing commercial presence in space; use space as a driver of technology development and derived benefits in allied areas; pursue international relations, and create an ecosystem for effective implementation of space applications among all stakeholders; for, the nation’s socio-economic development and security, protection of environment and lives, pursuing peaceful exploration of outer space, stimulation of public awareness and scientific quest, according to ISRO.

In pursuance of the vision set out for the space sector, Government seeks to pursue a holistic approach by encouraging and promoting greater private sector participation in the entire value chain of the Space Economy, including in the creation of space and ground-based assets.

Source: Times of Oman