After much anticipation and a series of inquiries and comments from various stakeholders, India has finally released its long-awaited policy setting out guidelines and rules for the country’s space ecosystem.
On Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the final version (PDF) of his “Indian Space Policy 2023”, received the approval of the country’s supreme decision-making body earlier this month.
The policy emphasizes the Indian government’s goal of “increasing space capabilities” and provides “regulatory certainty” to space sector reforms that were announced in 2020. It also outlines the role and responsibilities of the newly formed National Center for Space Promotion and Authorization. from India. (IN-SPACe), which works with private actors, including space technology startups in the country, to develop solutions and services for the space sector.
“IN-SPACe will function as an autonomous government body, with the mandate to promote, direct, guide and authorize space activities in the country. For this purpose, IN-SPACe will periodically issue guidelines and procedures that, among other things, promote the ease of doing business”, the policy establishes.
In addition to private participants, IN-SPACe will collaborate with academia and national and global industry players to boost space developments in the country. The policy also defines that the center must “issue guidelines to meet the safety and security requirements of space objects.”
The policy allows start-ups to “undertake end-to-end activities in the space sector through the establishment and operations of space objects, ground assets, and related services, such as communication, remote sensing, navigation, etc.”, subject to issued guidelines. by IN -Space.
Separately, ISRO has defined its role to focus “primarily on the research and development of new space technologies and applications, and to broaden human understanding of outer space.” The space agency will allow access to “free and open” data from its remote sensing satellites at ground sample distances of 5 meters or more to private and public participants in the space sector. In addition, it will make archived satellite data and satellite-derived thematic data from remote sensing satellites available “free and open” for research and development purposes.
The space agency will also stop manufacturing operational space systems and collaborate and partner with national and global industry and academia to focus on R&D in space science, technology and applications, according to the framework.
Together with ISRO, the framework defines the responsibilities of NewSpace India Limited and the Space Department.
NewSpace India Limited is tasked with commercializing space technologies and managing the production, leasing and acquisition of space assets from public and private players. In the meantime, the Space Department will lead the implementation of the space policy and ensure that responsibilities are appropriately distributed among the different stakeholders.
Indian Space Association (ISpA) Director General Lt-Gen AK Bhatt said the policy brings much-needed clarity on all space activities and would help create opportunities for private players.
“It also clearly defines the role of IN-SPACe, as a one-stop agency for the authorization of space activities by government entities and NGEs (non-governmental entities). With the clarity of this policy, we are confident that IN-SPACe and DoT will work quickly to secure the necessary clearances for private players in India,” he added.
The association counts as members space technology startups, including Mayfield-backed AgniKul and SIG-invested Singapore’s Skyroot Aerospace, as well as private companies such as Bharti Airtel and OneWeb.
Private participants, including startups in the country’s space sector, have also called on the government to introduce a foreign direct investment policy to help attract global investors. However, details on that front have yet to be announced.
The new policy comes months after the government released its draft for consultation last year as a significant update to the initial set of rules published in 2017.
In recent months, the Indian government has been working to boost space activities in the country and make it an attractive market for customers from all over the world.
Among other developments, recent government data shared in parliament shows that ISRO launch vehicles have launched as many as 388 foreign satellites in the past eight years, including 37 as of March. Microsoft also recently partnered with the space agency to work with local space technology startups.