Home · Technology · Sep 6 archive
Isro responds to staff questions ecosystem expanding pvt sector wont shrink our role
Confirmed
In Short: ISRO has responded to staff concerns over its privatisation plans, stating that its role will not diminish and that reforms are aimed at expanding the space ecosystem.
ISRO has responded to staff concerns over its privatisation plans, stating that its role will not diminish and that reforms are aimed at expanding the space ecosystem. In a statement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) clarified that the opening up of the space sector and progressive FDI policies are intended to create a larger, stronger, and globally competitive Indian space ecosystem, not to reduce its role.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has stated that the reforms introduced since 2020 are aimed at expanding India’s overall space ecosystem rather than reducing ISRO’s importance. According to ISRO, industry, start-ups, and academia are being enabled to participate across the space value chain, complementing and multiplying ISRO’s capabilities.
ISRO’s statement comes after key employee associations of the space agency wrote to its chairperson V Narayanan questioning the direction of the organisation’s privatisation drive and its implications for the existing workforce and the agency’s future role. ISRO clarified that the reforms should be seen as ecosystem expansion and capability multiplication, not privatisation.
ISRO further stated that India’s space economy is presently estimated at around $8.4 billion, still a relatively small share of the rapidly expanding global space economy. The agency emphasized that these are technologically demanding missions that require ISRO to remain focused on advanced research and capabilities that cannot simply be substituted by commercial activity.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Watch: 'I firmly believe I have broken no rules,' Farage tells BBC Nigel Farage has said the UK is a "complainants' society", as he faces ongoing questions about both his and his party's finances.
- Speaking to the BBC ahead of the party's annual conference this week, the Reform UK leader said a "whole ecosystem" didn't want "new kids on the block succeeding".
- Reform's annual conference begins in Birmingham on Thursday, with both Farage and the party facing renewed questions over money.
- US envoys arrive in Ukraine for talks after meeting Putin in Russia Police slow to respond to Dover protest, says council boss Minister to meet Jaguar Land Rover boss as thousands of job cuts expected Why more women carry the 'mental load' - and how couples can share it Natalie Imbruglia on her worst audition: 'I remember feeling icky' The next James Bond: The (00)7 questions fans want answered Majority Russian-speaking city in Ukraine considers language ban in the arts Why Munya Chawawa is 'jumping ship' from socials to Shakespeare Lindsay Clancy murder trial has divided US on whether she's victim or criminal Michael Owen doesn't tell his children he loves them - how big a deal is that?
- A debate over the future role of ISRO has intensified after nine employee associations sought written clarification on reported plans to shift some manufacturing and operational activities to private entities, prompting IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka to state that ISRO’s role is “by no means diminishing”.
- In a joint representation dated September 4 and reported on Sunday, September 6, the associations wrote to ISRO Chairman and Department of Space Secretary V Narayanan, seeking clarity on the policy, its implementation and its implications for ISRO’s workforce and future recruitment.
- The associations referred to remarks attributed to IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Kumar Goenka at an August 21 summit, according to which ISRO would eventually stop manufacturing launch vehicles, with such work being carried out by private companies or public sector undertakings.
- The associations said they were not opposed to private-sector participation or legitimate commercialisation through NewSpace India Limited ( NSIL ).