Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on National Space Day on Sunday, August 23, met founders and CEOs of about 20 space startups and urged them to make India a global hub for talent and innovation.
- Government data show the private sector has expanded rapidly, with roughly 440 space startups and private investment rising from $100.5 million in 2021–22 to $618.5 million by March 31, 2026.
- Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 reached orbit in July 2026, marking the first privately developed Indian rocket to do so and boosting investor confidence and international launch contracts for startups.
- ISRO chairman V. Narayanan announced plans for eight launch-vehicle missions and 12 satellite missions in the current financial year and said the Gaganyaan uncrewed flight programme is in its final stages.
- A political row has opened as Congress warns of excessive privatisation of ISRO’s role while the BJP and ministers say reforms since 2020 — including IN‑SPACe and NSIL — expand national capacity and will let ISRO focus on frontier missions.