Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe
At the 4th edition of the Indian Space Congress held in New Delhi in June 2025, Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), spoke about the transformative shift in India’s space sector, from being primarily government-led to a more collaborative, innovation-driven ecosystem. He also outlined key expectations that the industry has from IN-SPACe, as well as what IN-SPACe expects from industry stakeholders. Edited excerpts from his address…
India has a very bold ambition for the space sector. There is no way we can fulfil that ambition without true global partnership – partnerships in technology, market and investment, as well as collaboration with various companies. Achieving scale is also required.
Over the past three to four years, the Indian space sector has been going through a pivotal transformation, evolving from a government-led industry to a collaborative and innovation-driven sector led by non-governmental entities, as well as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Over the past year, major developments have occurred in the march towards the ambitious goal that we had set for ourselves. Many companies in the private sector have demonstrated their capabilities in multiple areas, while also realising that space is no child’s play. There is still a lot that needs to be done. Many companies started off thinking they would reach certain milestones within set timelines but eventually realised that meaningful progress often takes much longer, which is fine, because space is a complex subject. Even high-profile launches get delayed multiple times to ensure everything is done right. Such delays should not be a cause for concern at all.
The new initiative enabling the technology transfer of small satellite launch vehicles by ISRO to commercial players is a clear example of the Indian government’s commitment to fostering private sector participation in the space sector.
Final bids from start-ups and private companies to help build and maintain India’s first earth observation satellite constellation, as well as the satellite-bus-as-a-service project, are set to come in over the next few weeks. These two initiatives will allow the private sector to enter the space industry with the help of the government, not just financially but also to demonstrate what they can achieve.
India’s burgeoning satcom industry
As the space industry aspires to reach $44 billion by 2033, around $14 billion is expected to come from satellite communication (satcom). So, satcom will remain the top priority for the space economy.
Over the past year, key regulatory uncertainties and spectrum assignments have all been addressed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecommunications. Other regulatory issues faced by the industry are all moving towards resolution. Three licences have already been granted for low earth orbit satellite constellations for satcom. With these developments, I am hopeful that India’s digital divide will be bridged, enabling affordable connectivity in every nook and corner of the country.
IN-SPACe’s industry consultations
We engaged with various stakeholders to understand what they expect from IN-SPACe, ISRO and other government departments – and the insights were very valuable.
It came to light that IN-SPACe needs to become an orchestrator for the space industry – create and provide access to infrastructure, generate demand, enable private investment, act as a single window, attract business, foster international contacts and facilitate investment. This is exactly what IN-SPACe aims to do. It was established to address the very needs the industry has voiced. We have been successful in a few areas; we are making progress in other areas; and not quite successful in some other areas. However, let me assure you that everything that the industry has asked for, IN-SPACe is fully committed to, and we will do everything that we can to make it happen.
From ISRO, the expectation is to enable the creation of more facilities, oversee new technology developments, conduct orbital missions, engage in mentoring and research and development, support capacity building and foster stronger partnerships with industries – rather than acting as a service provider. These imperatives align closely with the objectives of the Indian Space Policy. The actions taken by ISRO and initiatives facilitated by IN-SPACe clearly reflect the direction that we are moving in. You will increasingly see ISRO contracts being awarded to the private sector, along with a growing share of defence contracts, among others.
The third aspect is: what are other government departments doing? Their role includes providing a long-term road map for applications and other upstream activities, creating a conducive business environment, easing import-export restrictions faced by the industry, increasing funding, granting intellectual property rights to the private sector, and strengthening space diplomacy. One of the key demands from the industry is the swift passage of the draft Space Activities Bill. Other demands include establishing regional partnerships in the Indian Ocean region and launching a national space education programme.
It is clear from these expectations that, for some time the government will remain the primary demand anchor. Based on that, we can determine the technologies that need to be developed and how the private sector can play a significant role in enabling them. As for space diplomacy, the outcomes are already visible – the growing number of countries that are interested in space programmes in India is clear proof of the progress we are making.
IN-SPACe’s expectations from the industry
The first expectation from the industry is to move beyond relying solely on ISRO for business creation and to focus on developing globally competitive, full-stack solutions. I say that because many companies are asking ISRO “Who will give me business?” – and while that is understandable, it must extend beyond what ISRO can offer. It is essential to reach out to the other sectors and government departments. Indian companies must actively demonstrate their capabilities outside India to generate business.
Second, user engagement needs to happen early on, which will reduce the time to market. No department or government is going to wait for three years for a solution to an existing problem. A particularly insightful point here is that we often develop solutions and then search for a problem to apply them to – when, in fact, we should start with clearly defined problems and then develop targeted solutions to address them.
Third, we must innovate with speed, scale and accountability, and move away from the build-to-print mentality toward soriginal design and innovation. I think many newer companies are doing that. Some older companies are still in the build-to-print mode, which they have to move out of. I think space associations have a very important role to play in bringing it all together.
One thing I would like to emphasise is space technology. Space technology requires the development of a foundational model for geospatial and earth observation constellations, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and data fusion. There is so much that is happening outside the space sector in terms of technology that has to be adapted within the space sector.
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is now mainstream. NavIC represents a powerful piece of national infrastructure, which is set to become more powerful in the next two years with new launches. Space-based internet of things is another area that demands more exploration and development. ISRO is fully aligned with this vision and is working on technologies such as reusable rockets, in-orbit servicing, space robotics, space manufacturing, etc.
We need a unified vision across all the stakeholders. Synchronised and strategic progress needs to be made, with the industry focusing on large, mission-driven projects that address challenges. Just as important is the need for faster execution of programmes.
India’s space economy is moving from vision to reality, slowly but steadily, leaping from capability to ownership, and from domestic relevance to global ownership. IN-SPACe will continue to be a committed enabler for the industry to move forward.
It is time for industry to lead with urgency, boldness and a global mindset. Let us work together to make India not just space-capable but also space-competitive, space-strategic and a truly global space power.
