ISRO Dismisses Reports Of Privatisation, Reforms Aimed At Ecosystem Expansion
The reaction came after nine employee associations at ISRO wrote to the Chairman on September 4, seeking official clarification on the proposed transfer of its manufacturing and operational functions to private entities
BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bengaluru dismissed reports in parts of the media over attempts/fears to privatise ISRO or reduce its role as “baseless” and “incorrect.” The clarification from ISRO stated “The space-sector reforms initiated since 2020 and institutionalised through the Indian Space Policy-2023 should be seen as ecosystem expansion and capability multiplication, not privatisation.”
The clarification came after Indian Space Research Organisation Staff Association/ISAC Employees Association among others Unions sought an official written clarification from the Department of Space (DoS) on Government policy regarding privatisation/transfer of ISRO manufacturing and operational functions, the future role of ISRO and the impact on serving employees and future generations.
ISRO on its social media handle asserted “ISRO will neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished. ISRO will continue to remain India’s principal institution for advanced space research and technology development, national and strategic missions, space science and exploration and critical and frontier capabilities.”
The clarification stated “Participation of the private sector in space is not about reducing ISRO’s role. It is about enabling ISRO to focus even more strongly on the next generation of India’s space programme while industry scales mature technologies and capabilities.”
“Along with progressive liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, aim to create a larger, stronger and globally competitive Indian space ecosystem. Industry, start-ups and academia are being enabled to participate across the space value chain, complementing and multiplying ISRO’s capabilities,” ISRO said in its clarification.
“The production of mature launch vehicles, routine satellites and other established systems can increasingly be undertaken by the industry of Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) through appropriate competitive processes. This allows ISRO to devote more resources and scientific manpower to the next generation of technologies and missions,” it stated.
