Nine employee associations at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have written to Chairperson V Narayanan asking for official clarification on the government’s plan to shift manufacturing and operational functions to private companies. The letter, dated 4 September, highlights worries about ISRO’s future role, the impact on current staff, and implications for recruitment.
The associations argue that while private participation in commercial activities can coexist with a strong public ISRO, reducing the agency to a limited research body while handing over launch vehicle production and infrastructure operations to private hands requires open debate. They point to comments made on 21 August by Pawan Goenka, chairperson of IN-SPACe, who said that eventually all launch vehicle manufacturing would be done by private firms or public-sector undertakings (PSUs). Employees note that no formal communication has followed to explain the approved policy, its legal basis, or its effect on workforce planning.
The letter stresses that ISRO’s technology is a national asset and its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and aligned with strategic, safety and employment considerations. Specific concerns include whether PSLV, LVM3, SSLV and future vehicles will remain ISRO functions, and how sanctioned strength, vacancies, recruitment calendars, and induction of scientific and technical staff will be affected.
Meanwhile, Goenka has reportedly stated that ISRO and private industry must work together to achieve India’s target of 50 launches annually by 2030. He emphasised that ISRO’s research will continue to push boundaries, while private firms are expected to scale up manufacturing of rockets, satellites and new technologies.