Overview
The Indian space programme has grown from a modest ISRO in the 1990s to a multi‑layered ecosystem that includes the commercial arm NSIL, the regulator IN‑SPACe, and a growing private‑sector base.
Key Developments (2024‑2026)
- Two launch pads operational at the Sriharikota spaceport; a second launch complex under construction in Tamil Nadu.
- Four operational launch vehicles: PSLV, GSLV Mk‑II, LVM‑3, and SSLV.
- Work underway on the Next‑Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) and a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
- Human‑spaceflight programme Gaganyaan drives priority for HLVM‑3.
- Government incentives in 2024: Rs 1 lakh crore interest‑free loan for tech startups, Rs 1 000 crore venture fund for space‑tech, 24 % increase in IN‑SPACe budget, and proposed removal of angel‑tax.
Important Facts
ISRO now operates >50 Indian satellites and has launched >400 commercial satellites for foreign customers. It has completed four lunar missions, one Mars mission, two space telescopes and a solar‑physics probe. Upcoming projects include a synthetic‑aperture‑radar satellite co‑built with NASA, an orbital space station, and further interplanetary probe