ISRO Confirms It Will Remain India's Lead Space Agency Despite Privatisation Plans
The Indian Space Research Organisation stated it retains control over national and strategic missions after internal staff groups questioned recent privatisation rumors.
ISRO confirmed in a statement posted on its X account on September 6 that it remains India's principal institution for advanced space research and technology. The agency handled national, strategic, and scientific missions while managing critical frontier capabilities. It explicitly stated the organization will not be privatised and its importance will not be diminished. This follows concerns raised by an ISRO staff association in a letter sent on September 4 regarding reports that manufacturing and operational responsibilities are being transferred to private or state-run companies. Employees sought clarity from ISRO Chairman V Narayanan about whether the Department of Space had formally communicated such plans. India is recognized as one of the world's leading spacefaring nations, having successfully launched a spacecraft to Mars, landed near the moon's south pole, and developed its own launch vehicles. The country is currently preparing for its first crewed spaceflight.
