‘ISRO is not privatised’: Narayanan addresses concerns over private sector push after space reforms

Is ISRO being privatised? ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan has sought to address concerns raised by employee associations over the government’s push for greater private-sector participation in India’s space industry. Narayanan said the reforms, introduced six years ago, are aimed at handholding private industry and expanding the overall space ecosystem, not diminishing ISRO’s role. With India targeting around 50 launch vehicles a year, he stressed that ISRO and the Indian space industry must work together. But employees have sought clarity over technology transfer, rocket manufacturing, operations, recruitment and ISRO’s future role.