ISRO staff bodies seek clarification on the trajectory of privatisation

Nine employee associations at India's space agency, ISRO, have requested clarification from its Chairperson, V. Narayanan, regarding plans to transfer manufacturing and operational functions to private companies. The groups' letter, dated September 4, 2026, also questioned ISRO's future role and the impact on current employees and future hiring.

The associations emphasized that private involvement in specific commercial activities can coexist with a robust, publicly-owned ISRO, but they oppose a policy that diminishes ISRO to a limited R&D entity while public responsibilities for launch vehicles and infrastructure are relinquished. They cited comments made by Pawan Goenka, head of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), who suggested at a public event that ISRO would eventually cease manufacturing launch vehicles and instead depend on private or public-sector undertakings.

The employee groups contended that these remarks lack any official communication from the Department of Space outlining the approved policy, its legal and administrative foundation, its implementation timeline, or the effects on the current workforce and future public hiring. They stressed that ISRO's developed technology is a national asset and must be transferred transparently, responsibly, and in alignment with strategic, safety, and employment concerns, not just through media reports.

The letter raised additional concerns about the future of PSLV, LVM3, SSLV, and subsequent vehicles, questioning whether these and other functions will remain with ISRO or be transferred away. They also sought information on the implications for staffing levels, current unfilled positions, the recruitment schedule, and the integration of scientific, technical, administrative, and industrial personnel across all ISRO facilities.