Context
India’s private space sector recently received a boost after Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space secured ₹105 crore under the Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) for its satellite platform programme, Project Garud.
About Project Garud
- It focuses on developing a standardised 500 kg-class satellite platform that bridges the gap between small experimental satellites and larger conventional spacecraft.
- The platform is designed for applications such as telecommunications, Earth observation, national security and other data-driven services.
- Its flat-pack architecture enables efficient launch stacking, quicker integration and faster deployment, making it suitable for large satellite constellations.
- The initiative also aims to establish infrastructure and industrial processes for large-scale manufacturing, with a planned capacity of nearly 500–600 satellites annually.
