ISRO staff bodies seek clarification on the trajectory of privatisation - The Hindu

**ISRO staff bodies seek clarification on the trajectory of privatisation**

Several employee organisations representing scientists and engineers at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have written to the Union government requesting a written clarification on whether the space agency is moving toward privatisation. The letters, sent collectively by the ISRO Scientists’ Association (ISSA), the ISRO Employees’ Union (IEU) and the Indian Space Research Staff Forum (ISRSF), ask the Ministry of Science and Technology to confirm the “policy direction, timelines and implications” of any potential privatisation of the national space sector. The staff bodies contend that, given the increasing involvement of private firms in launch services and satellite manufacturing, a clear stance from the government is essential for the morale and future planning of the agency’s workforce.

In response, senior ISRO officials have categorically denied that the agency is slated for privatisation. Speaking to the media, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath described the notion of privatising the organisation as “completely baseless” and “incorrect,” stressing that the space programme remains a sovereign undertaking whose “importance will not be diminished.” The agency’s press releases have echoed this sentiment, asserting that ISRO’s “next chapter” is to lead and nurture a national space ecosystem that integrates private industry while keeping the core research and development functions under government control. The statements aim to reassure staff and the public that any collaboration with private players will be on a partnership basis rather than a transfer of ownership.

The request for clarification arrives amid a broader policy debate on the role of private companies in India’s space activities. Recent reports in *The Hindu*, *NDTV*, *The Times of India* and *The News Minute* have highlighted the government’s push to open up the sector to private investment, including the establishment of a dedicated Space Activities Bill. While the government has signalled support for commercial launch services and satellite production, it has not announced any concrete plan to divest ISRO’s core capabilities. Analysts note that a clear communication from the Ministry could help balance the agency’s strategic objectives with the growing aspirations of the private space industry, and that the staff bodies’ demand for a written reply reflects a desire for transparency in an evolving policy environment.