Lok Sabha Question No. 1281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Startup in Space tech
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Veena Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## STARTUPS IN SPACE TECH

1281.   SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ be pleased to state:

मंğी

- (a) the steps/measures being taken by the Government to attract new startups in the field of Space-tech and other related industries;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken any project to compete with the Chinese hypersonic programs; and
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ तथा पृØवी ǒव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) ( डॉ. ǔजतɅġ िसंह )

- (a)  to  (c):  The  Government  on  24th  June,  2020  approved  far  reaching reforms in the Space Sector aimed at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is constituted as an autonomous agency in Department of Space (DoS) for enabling space activities, as well as, usage of Department of Space owned facilities  by  Non-Governmental  Private  Entities  (NGPEs)  and  to  permit, regulate, promote, hand-hold, monitor and supervise Space Activities of NGPEs in India.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken steps to attract new startups in the  field  of  Defence  and  Space.  Technology  Development  Fund  (TDF) Scheme  is  a  program  of  MoD  executed  by  DRDO  under  Make  in  India initiative.  The  scheme  was  approved  by  Hon'ble  Raksha  Mantri  in September 2016. The Government has approved TDF Scheme to encourage

industries  especially  MSMEs  and  Startups  to  develop  various  defence technologies. The scheme operates in Grants-in Aid Mode. At present, a total of 06 projects costing Rs. 3310.58 Lakhs, have been awarded to 06 Startups under TDF scheme and out of which 01 project in the field of Space tech has been awarded to two startups. As stated by DRDO, the information on Hyper-sonic vehicles is sensitive in nature.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) with its mandate to support entrepreneurship  and  innovation  across  India  has  supported  various initiatives and challenges related to Space Tech over the years.

-  Under Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) Scheme: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration  with  the  Indian  Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  and Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  launched  the  ATL  Space Challenge in September 2021. The ATL Space Challenge was open to all school students across the country and was presented with four broad challenge  themes  -  Explore  Space,  Reach  Space,  Inhabit  Space  and Leverage  Space.  A  total  of  8  virtual  YouTube  LIVE  sessions  were conducted to guide and motivate the students over a period of 6 weeks. The Challenge concluded with an overwhelming response of more than 2500 entries comprising of 6500 student's participation. The Top 75 teams were announced in January 2022.
-  Under Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) Scheme: AIM has supported more than 15 startups working in Space Tech and related industry across India. The focus areas for these startups are in  UAV, Drone  and Surveillance Equipment,  Aero  tech,  Air  Taxi,  Space  debris  tracking  and  monitoring service, space education among others.
-  Under ANIC Scheme: ANIC-ARISE program of AIM in association with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched challenge
- statements in the below focus areas:
- a.  Propulsion  -  Green  propellants,  Electric  propulsion,  advanced
- air-breathing.
- b. Geo-spatial information  using  Machine  Learning Intelligence (ML/AI).
- /Artificial
- c. Application of robotics, Augmented  Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) techniques.

These problem statements were made open for start-ups / MSMEs through a call for application. After 3 rounds of technical and financial reviews, 6 start-ups are supported with grant-in-aid up to Rs. 50 lakhs over a duration of 12 months.

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