4 hrs ago
ISRO Chief Assures Employees Agency Will Remain Government-Run
Some ISRO employees were worried that private companies might take over parts of the agency’s work.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said ISRO is still owned and run by the Indian government.
He said working with private companies and startups is meant to grow India’s space industry, not privatise ISRO.
Nine employee associations had asked for an official explanation.
Narayanan said their concerns were genuine and would be addressed.
He said about 450 Indian industries already work with ISRO.
He also said much of the money spent on launches goes to Indian industries.
India currently has 56 space assets serving people.
Narayanan said the country may need about 50 launches each year in the future.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the agency remains government-run and has not been privatised.
His comments followed a September 4 letter from nine employee associations seeking clarity on transfers of functions to private entities.
Narayanan said ISRO is working with private companies and startups to expand India’s space ecosystem and economy.
About 80% of each PSLV or GSLV launch budget is invested in Indian industries, with 450 industries involved, he said.
Narayanan said India needs about 50 launch vehicles annually, compared with one launch roughly every three years when he joined ISRO.
- Who
- ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, ISRO employee associations, private companies, startups, and IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka.
- What
- Narayanan said ISRO remains a government organisation while collaborating with private entities to expand India’s space sector.
- Where
- He spoke to reporters after the inaugural ceremony of the ninth Bengaluru Space Expo in Bengaluru.
- When
- Narayanan spoke on Monday, September 7, after a September 4 letter from nine employee associations.
- Why
- The clarification followed employee concerns about transferring ISRO manufacturing and operational functions to private entities, as the agency expands its activities.
Employee Concerns
ISRO Management and Industry Officials
Private-sector involvement
Employee Concerns
Nine employee associations sought clarity about proposed transfers of manufacturing and operational functions to private entities.
ISRO Management and Industry Officials
Narayanan said cooperation with private companies and startups is intended to grow the space ecosystem, not privatise ISRO.
Future role of ISRO
Employee Concerns
Employees raised concerns about how greater private-sector involvement could affect the agency’s functions.
ISRO Management and Industry Officials
Narayanan said ISRO remains government-run and would address the concerns of its employees.
ISRO-industry relationship
Employee Concerns
The employee concerns reflect uncertainty about how responsibilities may be divided between ISRO and private entities.
ISRO Management and Industry Officials
Goenka said it is not ISRO versus industry, but ISRO and industry working together under India’s space policy.
Key facts
- ISRO status
- Narayanan said ISRO remains a government organisation and has not been privatised.
- Employee representation
- Nine ISRO employee associations sought official clarification on September 4.
- Current space assets
- India has 56 space assets in the sky, according to Narayanan.
- Annual launch requirement
- Narayanan said India needs around 50 launch vehicles per year.
- Industrial participation
- Around 80% of the budget for each PSLV or GSLV launch is invested in Indian industries.
- Industry network
- About 450 industries work with ISRO.
- Space economy target
- Pawan Goenka said India’s space economy is about USD 8 billion and is targeted to reach USD 44 billion by 2033.
Quotes
Pawan Goenka
Chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
“We are working -- it's a government investment, and we are working there. But the only thing is, we now (have) so many activities. The space ecosystem in the country has to grow and the space economy has to grow.”
deccanchronicle.com
“It has to be industry and ISRO together. ISRO will be supporting in a very big way, as it has been doing in the last several years, and it will continue to support”
theprint.in
Sources
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