Space Policy, ISRO & Outer Space Law — India's Space Programme

Introduction

India's space programme, one of the most ambitious among developing nations, has evolved from a humble sounding rocket in 1963 to landing a spacecraft near the Moon's south pole in 2023. Space is no longer merely a prestige endeavour — it underpins national security, agriculture, weather forecasting, navigation, disaster management, and is now a fast-growing economic sector. India's civil space economy is projected to grow significantly, enabled by the Indian Space Policy 2023 which opened the sector to private enterprise.

ISRO: Institutional Overview

Vikram Sarabhai's Vision

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai articulated the rationale for India's space programme not in terms of military competition but as a tool for development: using space technology to solve problems of rural poverty, agriculture, health, and education. This developmental vision distinguishes ISRO's origins from the Cold War space race.

Major ISRO Missions

Chandrayaan Programme (Lunar)

Chandrayaan-3 significance:

• Lander: Vikram; Rover: Pragyan
• Landing site designated Shiv Shakti Point by ISRO
• Landing date (August 23) declared National Space Day
• Pragyan Rover confirmed presence of sulphur and other elements near south pole
• Mission conducted at fraction of cost of comparable NASA/ESA missions

Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)

• Launched: November 5, 2013; Mars orbit inserted: September 24, 2014
• India became first Asian nation to reach Mars and first nation to succeed on maiden attempt
• Cost: ~₹450 crore (cheaper than many Hollywood space movies)
• Mission ended: 3 October 2022 — battery depletion after a 7-hour eclipse (far exceeding the 1h40m design limit); ISRO declared mission end after over 8 years of operation

Aditya-L1 (Solar Mission)

• Launched: September 2, 2023
• India's first solar observatory in space
• Placed at Lagrange Point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system — approximately 1.5 million km from Earth
• L1 allows continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun
• Payloads study solar corona, solar wind, solar flares, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
• Significance: CMEs affect satellite communications, power grids, GPS

Gaganyaan (Human Spaceflight Programme)

• India's first crewed spaceflight mission
• Mission: Send 3 astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for 3 days, then safe ocean recovery
• Test Vehicle Demonstration (TV-D1): October 2023 — crew escape system tested successfully
• G1 (uncrewed, with Vyommitra half-humanoid robot): Scheduled 2026
• H1 (crewed): Projected first quarter 2027 (delayed from earlier 2025 target)
• Crew selected (February 2024): Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan, Gp Capt Angad Pratap, Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Shukla (all IAF test pilots)
• Training: At ISRO's astronaut training facility in Bengaluru and Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia

Launch Vehicles

PSLV variants:

• PSLV-G (standard), PSLV-CA (Core Alone — no strap-on boosters), PSLV-XL (6 strap-ons), PSLV-DL (2 strap-ons)

Indian Space Policy 2023

Background

Approved by the Cabinet on April 6, 2023, the Indian Space Policy 2023 is India's first comprehensive civil space policy. It defines clear institutional roles and opens the space sector to non-governmental entities (NGEs).

Institutional Framework Under Space Policy 2023

IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre)

• Set up in June 2020 (before the Space Policy; confirmed by it)
• Autonomous agency under Department of Space
• Provides shared launch facilities to private entities
• Authorises satellite constellations, launch vehicle development by NGEs
• Facilitates technology transfer from ISRO to private companies

Private Sector Players

Space-Based Applications

Navigation: NavIC

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) — India's independent regional navigation satellite system
• Also called IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System)
• Constellation: 7 satellites (3 Geostationary + 4 Geosynchronous)
• Coverage: India and ~1,500 km around it
• Accuracy: Better than 10 metres within India; 20 m in extended coverage area
• Frequencies: L5 and S band (dual frequency — better accuracy, ionospheric correction)
• Status (March 2026): Atomic clock failures in first-generation satellites; only 3 providing full navigation data — operational below ideal minimum of 4; second-generation NavIC constellation under development
• Applications: Fishermen safety (vessel tracking), disaster management, vehicle tracking, precision agriculture, defence

Remote Sensing: Cartosat & Resourcesat

Communication: GSAT & INSAT

• INSAT-3DS (2024): Advanced weather satellite; improves cyclone, flood prediction
• GSAT series: Broadband, DTH, VSAT services
• One Web constellation launches: LVM3 commercially launched 36 OneWeb satellites in 2023 — marks India's entry into commercial heavy-lift launches

International Space Law

Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967

The constitution of outer space law. Opened for signature on January 27, 1967; entered into force October 10, 1967. India is a signatory.

Key principles:

Other Key Treaties

Artemis Accords (2020)

• US-led set of non-binding bilateral principles for lunar exploration based on OST
• India signed on June 21, 2023 (27th signatory; PM Modi's US visit)
• Key principles: transparency, interoperability, deconfliction of activities, registration, release of scientific data, protection of heritage sites, sustainable resource utilisation
• Criticism: Some argue Accords favour US commercial interests; China and Russia have not signed

ASAT Test: Mission Shakti (2019)

• India conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test on March 27, 2019
• Code-named Mission Shakti; announced by PM Modi
• India became 4th nation with ASAT capability (after USA, Russia, China)
• Target: India's own satellite (Microsat-R) in Low Earth Orbit (~283 km)
• Low altitude chosen to minimise debris — most debris expected to re-enter within weeks
• Significance: Demonstrates India's space-based deterrence capability; critical for future military space assets
• Debate: Raised concerns about space weaponisation despite India's "responsible actor" framing

Space Debris

Mitigation Measures

• IADC Guidelines (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee): 25-year de-orbit rule for LEO; graveyard orbit for GEO
• UN Guidelines on Space Debris (2007, 2019 COPUOS guidelines)
• India's ISRO follows IADC guidelines for satellite disposal
• Active Debris Removal (ADR): technology under development globally

Militarisation vs Weaponisation of Space

India's Defence Space Agency (DSA), established in 2019, coordinates military space operations including satellite-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR).

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

1. (UPSC 2016) With reference to 'Astrosat', India's first multi-wavelength space observatory, consider the following statements: 1. Other than the ISRO, the main participants are the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). 2. AstroSat is a satellite of about 1513 kg. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

2. (UPSC 2019) Consider the following statements regarding the 'Outer Space Treaty': 1. It was signed and ratified in 1967. 2. India is a signatory to the Treaty. 3. The Treaty limits the deployment of nuclear weapons to the Moon only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

3. (UPSC 2021) With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLV launches satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLV is designed to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky as viewed from a particular location on Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

4. (UPSC 2024) Consider the following: 1. Chandrayaan-3 landing site named "Shiv Shakti Point." 2. The landing occurred on August 23, 2023. 3. India was the first country to land on the lunar south pole. Which is/are correct?

Mains

1. (UPSC 2016, GS3) What is India's plan to use the 'Space technology' for the benefit of its citizens? Discuss how the 'Space technology' is helping India in its socio-economic development.

2. (UPSC 2019, GS3) What is India's plan to develop a human spaceflight programme? What are the challenges involved?

3. (UPSC 2023, GS3) Discuss the significance of India's recent space missions. How does the Indian Space Policy 2023 seek to transform India into a global space hub?

4. (UPSC 2024, GS3) With the success of Chandrayaan-3, examine India's emerging role in global space exploration. What are the implications of India signing the Artemis Accords?

Recent Developments (2024–2026)

Indian Space Policy 2023 — Implementation Progress 2024

India's Indian Space Policy 2023 (notified April 2023) has progressively been implemented. Under the liberalised FDI rules (100% FDI in satellite manufacturing and operations under automatic route, approved February 2024), several foreign space companies have established Indian operations or partnerships. IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) has approved over 150 private sector space activities by 2024, including launch vehicle development, satellite manufacturing, and earth observation data services.

Key policy developments in 2024 include: the Draft Indian Space Activities Bill (expected to become legislation by 2025) which will provide the statutory framework for licensing, liability, and insurance requirements for private space actors; the Space Commerce Policy enabling Indian entities to sell earth observation data and launch services commercially; and satellite broadband spectrum allocation (for Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb/Eutelsat) creating a regulatory framework.

UPSC angle: Indian Space Policy 2023, IN-SPACe's role, FDI liberalisation (February 2024), and the Space Activities Bill are Mains GS-3 content.

SpaDeX and India's Docking Technology — Strategic Implications

SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment, successful January 2025) is strategically significant because space docking is a prerequisite for India's most ambitious future missions: (a) Chandrayaan-4 — planned lunar sample return mission (₹2,104 crore approved, target 2027) requiring docking in lunar orbit; (b) Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) — India's own space station planned by 2035, requiring crewed docking; (c) Gaganyaan follow-on missions with orbital rendezvous.

Internationally, space docking capability signals readiness for bilateral space cooperation (rendezvous for crew rescue, supply missions, joint experiments). India's demonstration at a fraction of NASA/Roscosmos costs reinforces the case for India as a cost-effective partner for international space ventures.

UPSC angle: SpaDeX's strategic role (Chandrayaan-4, BAS, Gaganyaan), cost-effectiveness, and international partnership opportunities are Mains GS-3 topics.

Outer Space Treaty and Space Debris — 2024 Developments

The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) continued discussions in 2024 on legally binding debris mitigation norms and the governance of satellite mega-constellations (Starlink: 7,000+ satellites; Amazon Kuiper). The existing Outer Space Treaty 1967 and Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (IADC, 2007) are voluntary — there is no binding enforcement mechanism.

India's ISRO follows the 25-year debris deorbit rule (satellites in LEO must reenter within 25 years of mission completion). India has successfully deorbited several old satellites to minimise debris. The May 2024 solar storm (X-class flare) caused dozens of Starlink satellites to temporarily drop orbits, raising alarm about geomagnetic storm impacts on mega-constellations and calling for improved space weather early warning.

UPSC angle: Outer Space Treaty provisions, COPUOS, space debris problem, mega-constellations governance, and ISRO's debris policy are Prelims and Mains content.

NISAR Launch and India-USA Space Cooperation — Strategic Policy Dimension (July 2025)

The launch of NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) on GSLV-F16 on 30 July 2025 is the most significant India-USA space cooperation milestone since the Apollo-Soyuz era. NISAR represents a ~$1.5 billion joint mission, with NASA contributing the L-Band radar and ISRO providing the spacecraft bus, S-Band radar, and launch vehicle. The mission demonstrates that India has achieved the technical credibility and institutional reliability to be NASA's equal co-contributor on a flagship science mission — not merely a vendor or junior partner.

From a policy angle, NISAR advances the June 2023 Modi-Biden space framework under iCET (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology), which identified space as a strategic domain for US-India partnership, including commercial space, human spaceflight, and planetary science. The data-sharing agreement underpinning NISAR — open access to both L and S-band SAR data globally — also aligns with India's stated commitment to space as a global commons.

UPSC angle: NISAR as iCET deliverable (US-India strategic space partnership), dual-use implications of SAR data, India's co-development (not just procurement) model, and open-data policy in space are Mains GS-2/GS-3 essay dimensions.

Shubhanshu Shukla — Axiom-4 Mission Policy Significance (June–July 2025)

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mission as pilot on Axiom Space Mission 4 (Ax-4, launched 25 June 2025, returned 15 July 2025) carries significant space policy implications beyond the scientific achievement. As a government-funded astronaut flying on a commercial space station mission (Axiom Space's commercial module on the ISS), Ax-4 represents India's first engagement with the commercial human spaceflight model — the New Space paradigm applied to human exploration.

ISRO signed a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space specifically for Ax-4, a precursor to the type of bilateral agreements India will need for future Gaganyaan crew members to conduct international collaboration on the ISS and eventually on Axiom's commercial space station (planned post-ISS retirement in 2030). The mission also tested ISRO's protocols for crew preparation, mission operations support, and media outreach — all relevant to Gaganyaan's operational readiness.

UPSC angle: Ax-4 as New Space policy precedent (commercial crew agreement), ISRO-Axiom MOU, and India's pathway to international human spaceflight engagement before Gaganyaan are Mains GS-3 dimensions.

Exam Strategy

High-yield for Prelims:

• Chandrayaan-3: July 14, 2023 launch; August 23, 2023 south pole landing; 4th nation soft-landing; Vikram lander + Pragyan rover
• Aditya-L1: First solar observatory; L1 point; 1.5 million km from Earth
• Mission Shakti: March 27, 2019; 4th ASAT-capable nation; low orbit to minimise debris
• India signed Artemis Accords: June 21, 2023 (27th signatory)
• Indian Space Policy 2023: ISRO (R&D), IN-SPACe (regulate/promote NGEs), NSIL (commercial)
• NavIC: 7 satellites, 10m accuracy, L5 + S band
• Outer Space Treaty: 1967, no WMD in space, no sovereignty, states responsible for national activities

For Mains (GS3):

• Analyse the transformation from ISRO-monopoly to multi-stakeholder model (ISP 2023)
• Space as a dual-use technology: civil benefits vs military applications
• Space debris as a global commons problem — link to Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons"
• NavIC strategic importance: not dependent on US GPS during conflict
• Chandrayaan-3 cost-efficiency: ₹615 crore vs NASA's equivalent missions — what does this say about India's jugaad innovation?
• Gaganyaan timeline delays: systems engineering complexity, crew safety standards

Mnemonic for space treaties: O-R-L-M = Outer Space (1967), Rescue (1968), Liability (1972), Moon Agreement (1979) — arranged chronologically; Moon Agreement is the odd one out (not signed by major powers).