Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Congress Accuses Modi Government of Planning ISRO Privatization
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says the government may give private companies a much larger role in India’s space programme.
He worries that ISRO could lose important work building rockets.
He also says satellite equipment and a planned spaceport in Tamil Nadu might be transferred to private companies.
Ramesh believes private space startups should receive help.
However, he says helping startups should not make ISRO weaker.
He says ISRO’s abilities were built over more than six decades.
Ramesh also claimed that many important ISRO workers recently left.
The articles do not include the government’s response to these claims.
They report concerns raised by Congress, not a confirmed government decision to privatize ISRO.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of pursuing an “aggressive privatisation agenda” for India’s space programme.
Ramesh claimed ISRO’s role in rocket development and manufacturing could be severely reduced, with satellite-related assets transferred to private companies.
He alleged that a second spaceport under construction in Tamil Nadu, involving about Rs 1,000 crore in government investment, could be handed to a private company.
Ramesh said private space startups deserve support but argued that this should not weaken ISRO or its longstanding private-sector partnerships.
He also claimed that 100–120 key ISRO professionals had left in recent months; the articles provide no government response or independent confirmation.
- Who
- Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Narendra Modi-led government of changing ISRO’s role.
- What
- Ramesh alleged that the government is pursuing aggressive privatization of the space programme and reducing ISRO’s role in rocket development, manufacturing, and satellite-related activities.
- When
- The allegations were made on a Monday; the articles do not provide a specific date. Ramesh also referred to a September 2023 Rajya Sabha speech.
- Where
- The allegations concern India’s space programme, including a planned second spaceport in Tamil Nadu and the existing Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- Ramesh said recent reports about ISRO’s future role raised concerns about protecting capabilities developed over more than six decades.
Congress’s concerns
Private-sector expansion
ISRO’s future role
Congress’s concerns
Congress argues that ISRO should not be weakened or stripped of capabilities developed over more than six decades.
Private-sector expansion
Ramesh’s account of recent reports suggests private companies may receive a substantially larger role, but the articles do not provide the government’s direct explanation or confirmation.
Support for startups
Congress’s concerns
Ramesh says private space startups deserve encouragement, but not at the expense of ISRO’s capabilities, independence, and professionalism.
Private-sector expansion
The alleged policy direction would expand private participation in space activities; the articles do not state the government’s specific justification.
Spaceports and assets
Congress’s concerns
Congress questioned the possible transfer of satellite-related assets and the planned Tamil Nadu spaceport to private companies, while raising uncertainty about Sriharikota’s future.
Private-sector expansion
Ramesh alleged that these transfers may occur, but no government response or confirmation of the reported plans appears in the articles.
- Accuser
- Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications
- Organisation
- Indian Space Research Organisation, founded in 1969
- Alleged policy
- A larger role for private companies in India’s space programme
- Rocket activities
- Ramesh claimed ISRO’s role in rocket development and manufacturing would be severely limited
- Tamil Nadu spaceport
- Ramesh alleged that the planned second spaceport could be handed to a private company; investment was described as about Rs 1,000 crore
- Reported departures
- Ramesh claimed that 100–120 key ISRO professionals had left in recent months
- Government response
- No direct response from the Modi government is included in the articles
Sources
Modi Govt Strangulating, Emasculating ISRO: Congress
Congress questions Modi’s space push: Why ‘strangle and emasculate’ ISRO to back private startups?
Modi Govt Has 'Aggressive Privatisation Agenda' for ISRO, Says Congress' Jairam Ramesh
Modi government strangulating, emasculating ISRO: Congress
