ISRO in a Liberalised Space Sector

Context

Over the last decade, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved major scientific and technological milestones despite limited resources. However, repeated success has raised expectations, and the next phase of India’s space programme now depends more on institutional capacity, governance clarity, and ecosystem support than on isolated mission achievements.

What have been ISRO’s major achievements in recent years?

1. Reliable Access to Space
   1. ISRO’s launch vehicles, especially the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), have consistently provided reliable access to orbit.
   2. Launching multiple satellites in a single mission has become routine.
2. Lunar Exploration
   1. The successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023, demonstrated India’s indigenous lunar-landing capability.
   2. India joined a small group of countries with proven soft-landing technology on the Moon.
3. Solar Science Mission
   2024. Aditya-L1 reached its intended halo orbit around the Sun–Earth L1 point on January 6, 2024.
   2025. It marked India’s first dedicated solar observatory mission.
4. Global Collaboration
   1. In July 2025, ISRO launched NISAR, a joint mission with NASA.
   2. The satellite supports climate studies, disaster management, and Earth observation.

Why do past successes create new challenges for ISRO?

1. Repeated success raises performance expectations.
2. Smooth execution of PSLV and GSLV missions now shifts focus from “first-time success” to routine delivery at scale.
3. ISRO is now expected to handle multiple high-complexity missions simultaneously, without delays.

What are the three major challenges facing ISRO today?

ISRO’s challenges can be grouped into three broad areas:

1. Execution Capacity for Complex Missions
2. Governance and Legal Clarity in a Liberalised Space Sector
3. Industrial, Financial, and Competitive Constraints

What execution challenges does ISRO face in the near future?

1. Parallel Mission Load
   1. ISRO is preparing simultaneously for:
      1. Gaganyaan (human spaceflight)
      2. Chandrayaan-4 (sample return mission)

• Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)

1. Satellite replenishment and science missions

2. Launch Bottlenecks
   1. Annual launch frequency remains low.
   2. In 2025, ISRO conducted only five launches, leading to cascading delays.
3. Dependence of Private Sector
   1. Private launch providers still rely heavily on ISRO’s facilities.
   2. ISRO cannot yet offload work at scale.
4. Systemic Impact of Failures
   1. Any delay or anomaly affects unrelated missions due to shared infrastructure.

What is needed to cope up with the challenges?

1. More integration facilities and test stands
2. Stronger industrial supply chains
3. Clear separation between R&D vehicles and operational launch vehicles
4. Internal prioritisation mechanisms to manage mission timelines

Why is governance a growing concern in India’s space sector?

1. Liberalisation after 2020
   1. Space sector reforms aimed to separate functions:
      1. Research → ISRO
      2. Authorisation and promotion → IN-SPACe

• Commercialisation → New Space India Limited

2. Absence of a Comprehensive Space Law
   1. India still lacks a national space legislation.
   2. This creates uncertainty over:
      1. Licensing and authorisation
      2. Liability and insurance

• Dispute resolution

3. ISRO as a Default Authority
   1. ISRO is frequently pulled into regulatory and certification roles.
   2. This distracts it from frontier research and advanced missions.

Why is a space law important?

1. Provides legal certainty to startups and private firms.
2. Protects ISRO from ad hoc regulatory burdens.
3. Ensures continuity across political and administrative changes.

How does competitiveness now depend on the wider ecosystem?

1. Global Trends in Space Sector
   1. Higher launch frequency
   2. Reusable launch vehicles
   3. Rapid satellite manufacturing
2. India’s Response
   1. NGLV aims for:
      1. Partial reusability
      2. Payload capacity up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit
   2. Focus shifts from technological success to economic viability
3. Financial Constraints
   2024. Space sector investment in India declined in 2024.
   2025. Hardware development requires long-term capital and patient funding.
4. Government Support Measures
   1. IN-SPACe launched a technology adoption fund.
   2. Goal: bridge prototypes to scalable products and reduce import dependence.

What does sustained institutional performance mean for ISRO?

1. Future success depends on routine execution of ambitious missions.
2. ISRO must evolve from:
   1. A mission-centric organisation
   2. To a mature industrial-technological system
3. This requires:
   1. Engineering excellence
   2. Clear regulation
   3. Strong manufacturing base
   4. Adequate and stable financing
      All four must grow together.

Conclusion

ISRO’s past successes have created higher expectations. The future of India’s space programme will depend on routine execution of complex missions, supported by clear governance, a strong legal framework, and a mature industrial ecosystem, rather than on isolated achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation alone.