Context
Recently, the Union Government indicated that the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is set to commence funding eligible space start-ups from the first quarter of FY2027, providing a major boost to India’s private space ecosystem.
About Antariksh Venture Capital Fund
- It is a close-ended, SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) established to promote private participation in India’s space sector.
- The fund is sponsored by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited, with IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space (DoS), as its key investor.
- It provides growth capital to Indian space companies for scaling operations and commercialising new technologies.
- The fund will invest exclusively in Indian space companies with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or above.
- It aims to strengthen India’s space start-up ecosystem and support the country’s long-term space ambitions.
About Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
- It is an autonomous, single-window nodal agency under the Department of Space (DoS).
- Established as part of India’s space sector reforms, it facilitates the participation of non-governmental entities (NGEs) in space activities.
- It promotes, enables, authorises, and supervises the space activities of NGEs.
- Its mandate includes facilitating the development of launch vehicles, satellites, space-based services, and space infrastructure, besides enabling access to ISRO and DoS facilities.
- It acts as the institutional interface between ISRO and NGEs, promoting collaboration, efficient utilisation of national space resources, and the growth of commercial space activities.
- IN-SPACe functions through three directorates: Promotion Directorate (PD), Technical Directorate (TD), and Programme Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD).
