Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Congress Raises Concerns Over ISRO’s Future Role
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh is worried about possible changes to India’s space programme.
He focused on the future role of the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO.
Ramesh said ISRO had built important scientific and technological abilities over about 60 years.
He believes the government may be giving private companies a much larger role in space activities.
He said this could weaken ISRO.
He also remembered scientists who helped build India’s space programme.
These included Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, U R Rao and A P J Abdul Kalam.
The report describes Ramesh’s concerns and allegations, but does not include a government response.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned reports about changes to ISRO’s future role in India’s space programme.
Ramesh alleged that the Narendra Modi government was pursuing an aggressive privatisation agenda in the space sector.
He said expanded private participation could undermine ISRO, which developed its capabilities over six decades.
Ramesh highlighted the contributions of Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, U R Rao and A P J Abdul Kalam.
He compared the government’s approach to space with what he described as its policy toward nuclear energy.
- Who
- Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh and the Narendra Modi government.
- What
- Ramesh questioned reports about ISRO’s future role and alleged that the government was pursuing aggressive privatisation in the space sector.
- When
- Monday; the reports prompting his comments had appeared in the preceding couple of days.
- Where
- New Delhi and social media platform X.
- Why
- Ramesh said expanded private participation could undermine ISRO’s capabilities, which he said had been built over six decades.
- Institution involved
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Congress representative
- Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in-charge of communications
- Government referenced
- The Narendra Modi government
- Main concern
- The future role of ISRO in India’s space programme
- Policy allegation
- An aggressive privatisation agenda and expanded private participation in the space sector
- Institutional history cited
- ISRO’s scientific and technological capabilities were built over six decades
- Platform used
- X