ISRO Chairman Calls For Industry, Startup Push

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has called for greater participation from Indian industry, startups, and academia to scale up the country's space sector.

He stressed that the growing demand for satellites and launches cannot be met by ISRO alone.

Narayanan was addressing the 9th edition of the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, where he highlighted India's space programme's new phase marked by increasing private-sector participation, technological advancement, ambitious missions, and international cooperation.

The ISRO Chairman noted that India currently has only 56 space assets serving from space, but the need is huge, with at least 200 to 300 satellites to be built and launched in the next 6 to 7 years.

He emphasized that this cannot be done only by ISRO and requires the participation of Indian industry and startups.

Narayanan also refuted reports of ISRO being privatized, stating that ISRO is a government organization and there is no question of privatization.

He highlighted the government's reforms to enable private participation, with IN-SPACe facilitating authorization of private space activities and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) supporting commercialization.

The ISRO Chairman noted that around 80% of the budget for a rocket launch goes to Indian industries, highlighting the contribution of Indian industry to the country's space programme.

He also pointed to the growth of India's startup ecosystem, with around 450 startup companies currently working in the space sector.

Narayanan emphasized the need to significantly increase India's launch frequency to meet its ambitions, from the current rate of one launch per month to around 50 launches per year.

He called for collective effort to achieve this goal, stating that the success of the Indian space program is because of the partnership with Indian industries and academia.

Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, also highlighted the rapid expansion of India's private space sector, noting that the country had moved from a single space startup in 2019 to over 450 startups currently working in the space sector.

The ISRO Chairman's call for greater participation from Indian industry and startups is a significant development in India's space sector, with the country aiming to become a major player in the global space industry.

The growth of India's startup ecosystem and the government's reforms to enable private participation are expected to play a crucial role in achieving this goal.

In conclusion, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan's call for greater participation from Indian industry and startups is a significant step towards scaling up the country's space sector and achieving its ambitions.

With the government's support and the growth of India's startup ecosystem, the country is poised to become a major player in the global space industry.