PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PRIVATE COMPANIES IN SPACE SECTOR

India's space sector is undergoing a historic transformation, moving from a government-dominated monopoly to a vibrant public-private partnership ecosystem. The recent Rajya Sabha disclosure by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh reveals remarkable progress: 440 space technology startups registered on the DPIIT Start-up India Portal, 113 authorisations granted by IN-SPACe to 52 Non-Government Entities (including 18 startups), and concrete launch plans for the next two fiscal years. This paradigm shift traces back to June 2020, when the Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) as an autonomous nodal agency under the Department of Space. The reform was further institutionalised through the Indian Space Policy 2023, which explicitly opened the sector to private participation across the entire value chain — from satellite manufacturing and launch services to ground stations and space-based applications. The key stakeholders form a well-defined governance architecture. At the apex, the Department of Space (DoS) under the Prime Minister's Office provides strategic direction. IN-SPACe, chaired by Dr. Pawan Goenka, acts as the single-window authorisation and promotion body, ensuring regulatory clarity and facilitating access to ISRO infrastructure. ISRO itself transitions from operator to enabler, sharing its world-class facilities — including the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) at Sriharikota — with private players. The 18 authorised startups represent India's new space entrepreneurs: Skyroot Aerospace (first private rocket launch in Nov 2022), Agnikul Cosmos (3D-printed engine technology), PixxelSpace (hyperspectral imaging constellation), Dhruva Space (satellite platforms), and Bellatrix Aerospace (electric propulsion), among others. Their authorisation covers diverse activities — launch vehicle development, satellite manufacturing, ground station operations, and space situational awareness. The significance for India is multidimensional. Economically, the global space economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040 (per Morgan Stanley), and India aims to capture 8-10% share from the current 2-3%. The sector promises high-value jobs, export earnings, and technology spin-offs. Strategically, private capacity enhances national security through resilient space assets, reduces dependence on foreign launch providers, and strengthens India's voice in global space governance forums like UNCOPUOS. Socially, space applications in agriculture (crop monitoring), disaster management (flood mapping), telemedicine, and digital connectivity directly serve citizens. Constitutionally, this aligns with Article 51A(h) (scientific temper), Article 21 (right to life via disaster early warning), and the Directive Principles under Article 39(b)-(c) (equitable resource distribution). The Space Activities Bill, under consultation since 2017, will provide the legislative backbone replacing the current policy framework. Globally, India's model mirrors the US NASA-Commercial Crew/Cargo approach but with distinctive features: a single-window regulator (IN-SPACe), government infrastructure sharing, and a focus on cost-competitive small satellite launches. The proposed 2 launches in FY 2026-27 and 6+ in FY 2027-28 signal growing maturity. Future implications include: potential Indian human spaceflight by private consortia, lunar resource exploration missions, space tourism, and India becoming a global launch hub. Challenges remain — liability framework finalisation, spectrum allocation for satellite constellations, intellectual property protection, and sustaining investor confidence. For aspirants, this exemplifies cooperative federalism (Centre-state coordination for launch infrastructure), technology-driven governance, and India's emergence as a rule-shaper in the final frontier.