ISRO Employee Associations Seek Clarification on Space Privatisation Policy

Nine employee associations representing thousands of staff at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have written to ISRO chairperson and Department of Space secretary V Narayanan to question the trajectory of the government's privatisation drive. The letter follows remarks made by Pawan Goenka, head of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), who stated that the private sector or PSUs would eventually handle the manufacture of launch vehicles instead of ISRO.

The associations expressed concern that the transition, which they note has already begun with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), could extend to the PSLV and LVM3. They flagged the potential transfer of routine satellite manufacturing and the opening of launch infrastructure, such as the Space Launch Complex at Kulasekarapattinam, to private entities. The letter notes that approximately 120 technologies have already been transferred to the private sector.

Employees argued that launch vehicle design and integration are core strategic capabilities and institutional memory rather than simple manufacturing contracts. They warned that withdrawing from these functions could lead to reduced recruitment, frozen promotion avenues, and the possibility of existing staff becoming surplus. While the associations stated they do not oppose private participation through NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) within a defined framework, they requested an official policy document to clarify the line between enabling private industry and dismantling ISRO's own capabilities.