These are the three new reforms in the works for India's space sector

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking to forward to private participation in the space sector.
• ISRO chairman K Sivan highlights now more than just setting up the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), other reforms are required to make the process more effective.
• He highlighted how New Space India Limited (NSIL) — ISRO’s commercial arm — now needs to be demand-drive and not supply-driven.
• Sivan also expressed the need for changes in navigation policies so that private players have easier access to data.

India’s new autonomous nodal agency, the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), will be formalised within the next three to six months.

However, in order for the private sector to fully engage with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the space agency’s chairman K. Sivan has a few more reforms in mind other than just setting up a new agency under the Department of Space (DoS).



“There is also a requirement for policies,” he said during the press conference on June 25. He highlighted the new for new navigation policies and also how the private sector arm of ISRO — New Space Indian Limited (NSIL) needs to recalibrate itself.

Policy changes need to make the space sector more accessible to private players
“India has the SatCom policy and Remote Sensing Data Policy (RSDP) but they need suitable modifications for the purpose of in-space to perform its duty in an effective manner,” he explained.


The SatCom policy dictates the use of Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system’s capacity by non-governmental agencies, the establishment and operation of Indian Satellite Systems and the use of foreign satellites for SatCom Services.

The other is India’s Remote Sensing Data Policy (RSDP) for the acquisition and distribution of remote sensing satellite data — from Indian and foreign satellites — for civilian users in India. “To make this system function effectively, we definitely need new policies to be built and we need a new navigation policy,” said Sivan.

According to him, the new mechanism will provide fair and equitable space for private enterprises.

Changes needed in New Space India Limited (NSIL)
“The role of NSIL is being recalibrated to transform its approach of a supply-driven model to being a demand-driven model for space-based services,” said Sivan.

Through these reforms, NSIL will be empowered to take over the operational launch vehicle, satellites as well as commercial applications, according to Sivan. It will execute through industry concertion and undertake technology transfer activities.

The new mechanism will ensure that private players experience ‘ease of doing space business’ at low cost.

The big push on private sector participation will enable non-government entities to carry out all space activities from the building of rockets and satellites to providing launch services and providing space-based services on commercial services.

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