BW Explains: What Is Space Policy & How It Will Bolster India’s Private Space Industry

After the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the government published the Indian Space Policy 2023 on Friday. The Policy will have a huge impact on the Indian space economy as it intends to expand India's global space economic contribution from less than 2 per cent to 9 per cent by 2030.

What does the Indian Space Policy 2023 entail?

The Indian Space Policy 2023 is a detailed collection of guidelines outlining the roles and responsibilities of various organisations in the Indian space sector. The policy paves the much-needed way through proposing space reforms which include more private sector participation in the space economy.

According to the policy, there is a need to stimulate and institutionalise private sector participation in India's space sector, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) principally focused on advanced space technology research and development. 

The policy also says about giving the private sector more access to ISRO's infrastructure, technology and expertise to help them with their space-related activities.

What are the policy's main features?

One of the policy's primary elements is the definition of the duties and responsibilities of three key institutions in India's space sector: the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

ISRO as India's top space agency will concentrate its efforts on developing new technologies, systems and research & development. NSIL is a space sector Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) that will work in a demand-driven way to meet the industry's needs and handle the operational aspects of ISRO's missions. Also, NSIL will be in charge of all strategic space-related initiatives. According to the businessline’s report, NSIL aims to increase private industry engagement in the space economy and develop a self-sufficient space industry in India.

Why policy's mention IN-SPACe significantly?

In-SPACe, which was established in 2020, is a single-window autonomous agency inside the Department of Space. Despite the fact that it has proven to be critical for space tech start-up players in all things related to permissions, integrations, launches and so on, industry players have frequently noted IN-SPACe's lack of a legislative mandate.

They can now rejoice because the space policy explains this body’s obligations. Other factors, such as organisational structure, appointments and tenure, remain unclear.

What exactly does the policy state about IN-SPACe’s responsibilities?

To begin, IN-SPACe will grant permission to both government agencies and non-governmental organisations for space operations such as the establishment and/or operation of space objects, rocket launches, launchpad construction, scheduled re-entry of space objects and so on.

On the promotion front, it would collaborate with space sector-centric industry clusters, work to position India as a preferred service provider for foreign product and service requirements, collaborate with academia to allow industry-academia connections and so on.

It will also create frameworks for building global standards-based space sector standards. IN-SPACe will approve the use of space objects for communication and broadcast services in collaboration with the relevant departments.

How will IN-SPACe help private players to participate in space activities?

IN-SPACe will “ensure a level playing field for the use of all facilities created with public funds by prioritising their use among government entities and non-government organisations.”

Apart from that, the policy stipulates that the organisation will incentivise Non-governmental Entities (NGEs) that obtain new orbital resources through filings with the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and so on.

What will be the role of the Department of Space?

According to the policy, the department will be in charge of carrying out the Indian Space Policy. It will also ensure that the policy's various stakeholders are empowered to carry out their tasks “without overlapping into the domains of others.”

Notably, the DoS will be in charge of maintaining existing and future satellite constellations and ground segments. In addition, it would “establish a framework to ensure safe and sustainable space operations in accordance with relevant international space debris mitigation guidelines.”

The problem of space debris has gotten so bad that it threatens the survival of current satellites. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution last year that voiced worry over space debris, calling it the “most significant threat to the space environment.”

How does India's space industry weigh in the world and future challenges?

India's space industry is known worldwide for producing low-cost satellites and advocating for the peaceful and civilian use of space. ISRO has a high success rate and is the world's sixth-largest space organisation. 

India has about 400 private space enterprises and ranks fifth in terms of the number of space companies worldwide. 

The establishment of the Defence Space Agency (DSA) and the expansion of satellite production capabilities, which are estimated to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2025, are recent advancements. 

ISRO also started a student outreach programme named SAMVAD to inspire young brains to pursue careers in space.

However, the space sector faces significant challenges, including a lack of commercialisation regulations, which could lead to monopolisation, rising space debris from increased expeditions, China's rapid growth in the space industry and potential weaponisation and an increasing global trust deficit, which creates an environment of suspicion and potential conflict.