Overview
- Nine ISRO employee associations issued a detailed 'Protect ISRO' pamphlet on September 17 calling for safeguards as private firms take a larger role in launch production.
- The groups demand that the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) receive top priority and that full R&D-to-launch chains for critical systems remain inside ISRO to preserve design, testing, and mission-assurance skills.
- They oppose transferring mature LVM3 technology in ways that could weaken ISRO before NGLV is established and propose a public-sector-led production model through NSIL, HAL, and other strategic manufacturers.
- The pamphlet calls for restoration of the Joint Consultative Mechanism, faster regular recruitment, a cadre review, better promotion paths, and job security for contract workers to address workforce stagnation.
- The associations welcomed the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 success, asked for scientific probes into recent PSLV failures, and urged implementation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s recommendations on valuation and licensing of publicly funded technologies.