Indian Space Policy 2023

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Space technology

The government approved the Indian Space Policy 2023.

Details of Indian Space Policy 2023

• It seeks to institutionalise private sector participation in space, with ISRO focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies.
• The policy will allow the private sector to take part in end-to-end space activities that include building satellites, rockets and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
• The Indian Space Policy-2023 also delineated ISRO, space sector PSU NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) roles and responsibilities and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
• The INSPACe, created recently, will be the interface between Indian Space Research Organisation and non-governmental entities.
• The policy also spells out the framework for the private sector to use ISRO facilities for a small charge. It encourages them to invest in creating new infrastructure for the sector.
• ISRO will not do any operational and production work for the space sector and focus its energies on developing new technologies, new systems and research and development.
• The operational part of ISRO’s missions will be moved to the NewSpace India Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Department of Space.

Major Provisions of Indian Space Policy 2023

Delineation of Roles

• The policy delineates the roles and responsibilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the space sector PSU NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
• Strategic activities related to the space sector will be carried out by NSIL, which will work in a demand-driven mode.
• IN-SPACe will be the interface between ISRO and non-governmental entities.
• ISRO will focus its energies on developing new technologies, new systems and research and development.
• The operational part of ISRO’s missions will be moved to NewSpace India Limited.

Entry of Private Sector

• The policy will allow the private sector to take part in end-to-end space activities that include building satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
• The private sector can use ISRO facilities for a small charge and is encouraged to invest in creating new infrastructure for the sector.

Current Status of India’s Space Sector

• About
  • The Indian Space Sector has been globally recognised for building cost-effective satellites, and now India is even taking foreign satellites into space.
  • As part of India’s commitment to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, the country continues to advocate peaceful and civilian use of outer space and oppose any weaponization of space capabilities or programs.
  • ISRO is the 6^th largest space agency in the world and holds an exceptional success rate.
    • With over 400 private space companies, India ranks fifth globally in no. of space companies.
• Recent Developments in India’s Space Sector:
  • Defence Space Agency: India has recently set up its Defence Space Agency (DSA) supported by the Defence Space Research Organisation (DSRO) which has the mandate to create weapons to “degrade, disrupt, destroy or deceive an adversary’s space capability”.
    • Also, the Indian Prime Minister launched the Defence Space Mission at the Defence Expo 2022, Gandhinagar.
  • Expanding Satellite Manufacturing Capabilities: India’s satellite-manufacturing opportunity will reach USD 3.2 billion by the year 2025 (in 2020 it was USD 2.1 billion)
  • SAMVAD Program: To encourage and nurture space research among young minds, ISRO launched its Student Outreach Program called SAMVAD at its Bengaluru facility.

Current Major Challenges Related to the Space Sector

• Lack of Regulations on Commercialisation: The commercialization of outer space is accelerating due to the development of private satellite expeditions for Internet services (Starlink-SpaceX) and for space tourism.
  • It is possible that if no regulatory framework is put in place, rising commercialisation may lead to monopolisation in the future.
• Rising Space Debris: As outer space expeditions increase, more space debris will accumulate. Because objects orbit Earth at such high speeds, even a small piece of space debris can damage a spacecraft.
• China’s Space Leap: Compared to other countries, the Chinese space industry has grown rapidly. It has successfully launched its own navigation system, BeiDou.
  • It is very likely that China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) members will contribute to or join the Chinese space sector, solidifying China’s global position and may lead to the weaponization of outer space.
• Increasing Global Trust Deficit: An arms race for the weaponization of outer space is creating an environment of suspicion, competition, and aggressiveness across the globe, potentially leading to conflict.
  • It would also put at risk the entire range of satellites as well as those involved in scientific explorations and communication services.