ISRO employee bodies seek clarity on privatisation, future role of agency

Key employee associations at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have written to chairperson V Narayanan, seeking clarity on the agency's future role amid the ongoing privatisation of India's space sector. The letter was sent on Friday, hours after ISRO successfully launched an earth observation satellite aboard a GSLV rocket following a months-long gap.

The communication follows remarks made on August 21 by Pawan Goenka, chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the nodal body set up in 2020 to open the space sector to private participation. Goenka had said that ISRO would eventually stop manufacturing launch vehicles and routine satellites, with such work moving to the private sector or public sector undertakings. He suggested ISRO would focus on special-purpose satellites, scientific research, and developing new technology for transfer to industry.

The employee associations argue that these statements were not backed by any formal communication from the Department of Space explaining the policy, its legal basis, timeline, or implications for current staff and future recruitment. The letter, signed by representatives from ISRO centres including the Space Applications Centre and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, asks Narayanan to issue a written clarification on whether Goenka's remarks represent an approved decision of the government, the Space Commission, or the Department of Space.

Specific concerns raised include ISRO's future role as a public organisation, whether PSUs would also be excluded from manufacturing work, safeguards for current employees, and the terms under which publicly funded technologies are transferred to private companies. The letter also asks whether employee associations will be consulted before any irreversible decision affecting the agency's structure, mandate, or staffing is finalised.

The associations describe launch vehicle development and satellite building as ISRO's core competence, warning that withdrawing from these areas threatens the organisation's long-term viability. They note that shrinking recruitment, already constrained by vacancies and attrition, could discourage talented young professionals from joining ISRO.

Since the sector was opened to private participation in 2020, the stated approach has been for ISRO to mentor emerging companies while focusing on missions of scientific and strategic significance. ISRO has already transferred around 120 technologies to industry, including the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and the PSLV. A new spaceport at Kulasekharapatnam is expected to cater to small satellite launches, a segment where private capability is already advanced.

Ajay Lele, Deputy Director General at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said the sector's opening was overdue and could help India capture a larger share of the global market. With ISRO focused on major projects like Gaganyaan, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and a crewed lunar mission, some functions would naturally shift to private players. However, he cautioned that launch services and vehicle development remain core to ISRO's mandate. "The situation should not be like NASA, where they are completely dependent on SpaceX for their launches," he said. "ISRO should remain capable of launching some of its own satellites, especially the strategic ones."

Neither Goenka nor Narayanan were available for comment.