Lok Sabha Question No. 2206 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: ISRO's Collaboration with Other Space Agencies
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2206

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025

ISRO'S COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SPACE AGENCIES 2206.  SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  status  of  ISRO's  collaboration  with  other  space agencies and countries;
- (b) whether the Government plans to partner with foreign space research  organisations  for  any  upcoming  missions  and  if  so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  initiatives  to encourage  private  investment  and  participation  in  spacerelated activities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  vision  of  ISRO  in  terms  of  international  collaboration contributing  to  the  advancement  of  space  exploration  and technology?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) Currently,  space  cooperative  documents  have  been  signed with 61 countries and five multilateral bodies. The major areas of cooperation are satellite remote sensing, satellite navigation, satellite communication, space science and planetary exploration and capacity building.
- (b) Yes.  Indian  Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  is  already working with the space agency of USA (NASA) for realising a joint  satellite  mission,  named  'NISAR  (NASA  ISRO  Synthetic Aperture Radar)' which is in the advanced stages of realisation. ISRO is working with CNES (French National Space Agency) for realising a joint satellite mission named 'TRISHNA (Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High Resolution Natural Resource  Assessment)',  which  is  in  the  initial  stages.  ISRO and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) have carried out a feasibility study to realise a joint lunar polar exploration mission.
- (c) The  following  steps  are  taken  by  the  Government  to  further private  sector  investment,  their  participation  and  the  growth of Space Sector in India:
- I. The space sector has been liberalised and private sector allowed to carry out end to end space activities.
- II. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was created in Department of Space for  promoting,  authorising  and  overseeing  the  activities of non-government entities (NGEs) in Space Sector.
- III. The Indian Space Policy - 2023 has been formulated by the Government to provide regulatory certainty to space
- activities  by  various  stakeholders,  in  order  to  create  a thriving space ecosystem.
- IV. Various  schemes  to  encourage  and  hand  hold  private sector  also  announced  and  implemented  by  IN-SPACe, i.e., Seed fund Scheme, Pricing Support Policy, Mentorship  support,  Technical  Centre,  Design  Lab  for NGEs,  Skill  Development  in  Space  Sector,  ISRO  facility utilisation support, Technology Transfer to NGEs, creation of IN-SPACe Digital Platform to connect with all the stakeholders of space ecosystem etc.
- V. Decadal vision and strategy for Indian space economy is also  announced  by  IN-SPACe,  which  shall  increase  the share of India in overall space economy.
- VI. The  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  the  establishment  of a ₹1,000  crore  Venture  Capital  (VC)  Fund dedicated  to supporting India's space sector.
- VII. IN-SPACe has signed around 78 MoUs with NonGovernment Entities (NGEs) to provide necessary support for realization of space systems and applications envisaged by such NGEs, which is expected to increase the  industry  participation  in  manufacturing  of  launch vehicles and satellites.
- VIII. In order to ease access to foreign capital by Indian NGEs, IN-SPACe along with Department of Space and DPIIT has brought out revised FDI policy for Space Sector.
- IX. IN-SPACe has initiated Establishment of Earth Observation (EO) System under Public Private
- Partnership (PPP). The Expression of Interest (EOI) was invited  from  Non-Government  Entities  (NGEs).  RFP  is floated.
- X. Technology  Transfer  of  Small  Satellite  Launch  Vehicle (SSLV) to Indian entities is under process and response to RFP is invited from shortlisted bidders.
- XI. Announcement  of  Opportunity  is  made  by  IN-SPACe  for making  available  Indian  orbital  resources  to  the  NGEs. One Indian entity is selected.
- (d) ISRO pursues international collaboration with the objectives of enhancing  the  capacity  of  the  Indian  space  programme  for advancing programmatic priorities, augmenting space science and  earth  observation  data  base,  widening  ground  station networks, improving products and services through joint experiments and creating platforms for inflow of expertise.

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