A New Frontier

Context: Privatisation of space and atomic energy, will pave the way for Increasing India’s share in the global space economy within a decade.

Advantages of Space Privatisation 

• Level playing field: in satellite launches and space-based services.
• Predictable policy and regulatory environment.
• Access to geospatial data and facilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Promote Indian space-tech start-ups.
• Encourage space technology and sector: more than 17,000 small satellites will be launched in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by 2030.

Way Forward

• Public-private partnership as funding support: to early-stage start-ups through adventure capital (not risk-averse venture capital) and patient capital (longer lead time).
• Innovative public procurement policy: for start-ups by replacing the lowest cost selection approach with a lower total cost of ownership.
• Robust space tech-startup national innovation ecosystem: comprising incubators, accelerators, and mentors (with ISRO’s help).
• Synergising space tech-startup: with the government’s programmes such as Digital India, Startup India, Make in India, Smart Cities Mission.
• Law for private player participation: across the space value chain (rewrite, lapsed The draft Space Activities Bill, 2017).

Conclusion: Self-belief coupled with determined actions and bold policies is a way forward to achieve self-reliance in space technology.