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In a significant and timely intervention, SIA-India, in collaboration with GraySpace Law & Policy Consulting, convened a high-level roundtable on “The Draft EU Space Act: Perspectives from Non-EU Partner Countries.”
Held in the wake of the European Commission’s public consultation on the Draft EU Space Act, the dialogue served as a crucial platform for global engagement — bringing together policymakers, regulators, and industry experts from the United States, Japan, Australia, India, and the European Union. The roundtable underscored the importance of incorporating diverse international perspectives in the development of Europe’s emerging space governance framework.
This initiative stands out as one of the most significant international interventions led by SIA-India — not only analysing the proposed regulation but also broadening the discussion to how space can evolve as a domain of shared opportunity and mutual growth. Participants collectively highlighted that cooperation, not competition, must anchor the future of global space governance.
Reinforcing this commitment, SIA-India and GraySpace jointly submitted an industry response to the European Commission’s consultation, calling for balanced regulation, early international collaboration, and mutual recognition of standards. The submission advocates for a framework that remains open, innovation-driven, and supportive of stronger partnerships with trusted nations like India.

The Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS, IIFT) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), convened a workshop on Supply Chain Resilience on 30 October 2025 at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi. The session focused on identifying critical dependencies, domestic production gaps, and policy measures to enhance resilience across strategic sectors.
Discussions revealed several systemic vulnerabilities, including weak local value addition and economies of scale, technology transfer and manufacturing gaps, and an overdependence on China-centric supply chains. Experts also noted limited collaboration with trusted international partners and underdeveloped domestic processing and innovation ecosystems, particularly for critical minerals and advanced materials. Strengthening data systems—through 8–10 digit HS classification and HS–NIC harmonisation—was recognised as essential for mapping vulnerabilities in emerging domains like space and deeptech.
SIA-India participated in the discussions, underscoring the relevance of this framework for the space and deeptech sector, especially in addressing material dependencies, technology access, and domestic manufacturing scale-up. The association will adapt the sectoral questionnaire and submit its inputs to the Department of Commerce and CWS by December 2025.

SIA-India, in collaboration with KPMG, is currently finalising the draft Pre-Budget Memorandum for the Union Budget 2026. As part of a phased submission process, the association is presently submitting industry inputs to various line ministries, while a consolidated memorandum will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance after incorporating further stakeholder feedback and recommendations.

This two-track approach is designed to highlight the space sector as a critical pillar of national growth, ensuring that its unique needs and opportunities receive due policy attention. The memorandum focuses on key areas such as industry funding, incentives for private participation, taxation rationalisation, GST reforms, and the quantification of India’s space economy.

Through this proactive initiative, SIA-India aims to ensure that the forthcoming budget reflects Ind

SIA-India welcomes additional inputs from industry stakeholders at sudipta.behera@sia-india.com

In a landmark development for India’s rapidly evolving NewSpace ecosystem, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd have jointly announced the launch of a ₹1,000 crore fund to support early-stage and growth-focused space startups. This initiative comes at a crucial juncture for a sector known for its capital-intensive nature, where building launch vehicles, satellites, payloads, ground systems, and downstream applications demands significant investment and long-term commitment. The fund aims to provide much-needed financial momentum to promising enterprises, enabling innovative ideas to transition into scalable, market-ready ventures. It will support startups across a wide range of segments including launch services, satellite manufacturing, payload development, earth observation, communication platforms, and downstream services. The move further reinforces India’s ongoing shift from an agency-dominated framework to a dynamic, private-driven space ecosystem, empowering domestic enterprises to compete globally. For startups, investors, and service providers, this fund opens new opportunities to accelerate indigenous capability, foster import substitution, and expand export potential—strengthening India’s position in the global space value chain.

In another remarkable milestone for India’s space programme, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)successfully launched the LVM3-M5 rocket carrying the heaviest Indian communication satellite, GSAT-7R, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 2 November 2025. The successful mission marks a major step in India’s heavy-lift launch capability and its expanding use of space assets for national security and maritime operations.
The GSAT-7R satellite is designed to provide robust and secure telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Equipped with an advanced payload featuring transponders supporting voice, data, and video links over multiple communication bands, the satellite will enable seamless connectivity between the Indian Navy’s ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres. This will significantly enhance the Navy’s situational awareness, operational coordination, and communication resilience in complex maritime environments.
The launch underscores India’s growing self-reliance in space technology and its commitment to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as the LVM3 rocket now routinely handles four-tonne-plus satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) — a feat that reduces dependence on foreign launchers for heavy communication satellites. It also reaffirms the LVM3’s operational reliability, making it a cornerstone vehicle for India’s forthcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

SIA-India extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Narayanan V, Secretary, Department of Space & Chairman, Space Commission and ISRO, on being conferred the IETE Honorary Fellowship during the 72nd Foundation Daycelebrations held in New Delhi.

SIA-India is pleased to partner with Novaspace for the Novaspace India Launch & Industry Engagement Session, scheduled for 20th November 2025. The event marks Novaspace’s official entry into the Indian market, aimed at fostering stronger collaboration between Indian and European space stakeholders.
The session will spotlight Novaspace’s vision for India, its role in enabling cross-border partnerships, and emerging opportunities for Indian companies in the evolving global space ecosystem. Discussions will also focus on industry engagement, policy collaboration, and new models of commercial cooperation that can accelerate India’s space growth trajectory.
International partnerships that strengthen India’s commercial and innovation-driven space ecosystem. SIA-India invites industry members to join this engagement and be part of this important dialogue.

 

Developed by SIA-India, this special report celebrates the remarkable 50-year journey of the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) — the operational backbone of India’s space program. Established in 1976, ISTRAC has supported more than 120 satellites and 100 launch vehicles, ensuring mission success through its robust ground infrastructure and advanced telemetry, tracking, and command systems.

From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan-3, and now preparing for Gaganyaan, ISTRAC’s evolution reflects India’s technological excellence and leadership in mission operations and space safety. Its pioneering work in Space Situational Awareness (SSA), NavIC ground segment operations, and deep space mission support underscores India’s growing expertise in sustainable and secure space activities.

SIA-India has partnered with the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and the Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII) under the Maitri Space Market Discovery and Access Program, a strategic initiative to strengthen bilateral space collaboration.
The program aims to empower emerging Australian space companies with the insights, networks, and capabilities to explore commercial opportunities within India’s growing space ecosystem. It will enhance understanding of India’s regulatory landscape, procurement pathways, and partnership avenues.

Under the Maitri Grant 2025, SIA-India and its partners have submitted two proposals: 

• Australia–India Space Innovation, Research & Workforce Development Partnership (SIRWDP) with SIAA — focusing on joint R&D, talent development, and cross-border innovation.
• Australia–India Space Policy, Standards & Industry Innovation Harmonisation Program with ASII — focusing on regulatory alignment, policy dialogue, and technology exchange.

This initiative underscores SIA-India’s commitment to fostering global cooperation and expanding international market access for the Indian space industry.  

SIA-India participated in the 3rd Security Studies Dialogue, themed “Gagan Shakti: The Confluence of India’s Civilian and Defence Space Domain”, held on 10 November 2025 at The Oberoi, New Delhi. The closed-door dialogue, organised by Carnegie India, brought together key stakeholders from government, defence, and industry to deliberate on India’s evolving space capabilities.

Discussions in the first session focused on the progress of India’s space sector since the 2020 reforms, highlighting the impact of the Indian Space Policy 2023, FDI Policy 2024, and IN-SPACe-led initiatives in advancing commercial participation and innovation. The second session examined India’s defence space capabilities, drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor 2025 and emphasising the need to strengthen ISR, navigation, and space domain awareness systems.

Heartiest congractulations to Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President of SIA-India, eminent scientist, and a distinguished leader in India’s space fraternity, on his appointment as the Chancellor of Vignan’s University, Andhra Pradesh, on 5 November 2025..
Fondly known as the “Grandfather of India’s SpaceTech Startup Ecosystem,” Dr. Pavuluri has been a trailblazer in the nation’s aerospace and defence sectors. He was the first Indian to establish a private AIT facility for satellites and launch vehicles, paving the way for private participation in India’s space programme.
SIA-India extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Pavuluri on this distinguished achievement and wishes him continued success in his journey of fostering education, innovation, and space leadership for India and beyond.

SIA-India is proud to partner as the Industry Association Partner for the National Space Convention (NSC) 4.0, organized by UPES, a leading platform fostering dialogue and innovation in India’s emerging space ecosystem.
Through this collaboration, SIA-India continues its commitment to empowering students and young innovators, recognizing their vital role in driving India’s national space ambitions.
The partnership underscores SIA-India’s ongoing efforts to nurture the next generation of space leaders, supporting the thinkers, builders, and dreamers who will shape the future of India’s space industry.

SIA-India, in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) under the go international initiative, jointly led by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism and WKO, successfully hosted the India–Austria Webinar: The Future of Space Tech in India on 4 November 2025.
The session brought together leading experts, industry representatives, and policymakers from both nations to explore cross-border opportunities and emerging avenues of collaboration in the rapidly expanding space technology sector.
Discussions traced India’s growing space economic trajectory, highlighting how Austrian innovation and India’s industrial scale can jointly drive growth in satellite manufacturing, launch services, and downstream applications. Participants also examined how government reforms, private investment, and startup dynamism are positioning India as a global hub for space entrepreneurship and R&D.
The webinar provided a valuable platform for Austrian and Indian stakeholders to connect, co-innovate, and identify partnership opportunities, reinforcing the shared commitment to advancing international cooperation and sustainable growth in the global space ecosystem.

On 17 October 2025, SIA-India hosted a high-level dialogue bringing together experts and industry leaders from India, Finland, and Europe to explore new frontiers in space technology, science, and industrial collaboration. The discussions showcased how shared strengths and joint initiatives can accelerate innovation, industrial scale-up, and global competitiveness.
Key highlights included a strong emphasis on joint R&D and innovation in satellite systems, space weather modeling, AI-driven analytics, micro/nanosatellite development, and space life sciences — complemented by researcher and student exchange programs to build next-generation expertise.
The session also identified industry synergy opportunities in co-manufacturing, joint payload development, small satellite systems, and deep-tech startup partnerships, leveraging Finland’s R&D capabilities and India’s robust manufacturing and launch ecosystem.
Participants underlined the importance of data and infrastructure sharing, including access to testing facilities and simulation platforms to advance space situational awareness (SSA), space traffic management (STM), and climate-monitoring applications.
The dialogue set a strategic vision to evolve from government-to-government initiatives toward deeper B2B collaborations, industry–academia partnerships, and joint technology co-development, focusing on practical, globally impactful solutions.

IN-SPACe, in close technical collaboration with SAC and ISRO, has announced the release of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for Indian Non-Government Entities NGEi to develop SAR applications using NISAR data. This exciting initiative provides Indian innovators, startups, and researchers with the chance to leverage the cutting-edge capabilities of NISAR to address key challenges in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, water management, and disaster management.

Launch Date: October 21, 2025
Last Date to Apply: November 20, 2025, 23:59 Hrs

This AO is a direct outcome of the NISAR Awareness Workshop for NGEi, held on April 29, 2025, which was orchestrated by SAC/ISRO. The workshop brought together a diverse group of Indian stakeholders to explore the tremendous potential of NISAR’s high-resolution SAR data. Through this AO, IN-SPACe invites Indian NGEi to propose innovative SAR-based solutions utilizing NISAR data to solve pressing national challenges.

The Seed Fund Scheme and Seed Fund Guidelines (Annexure - V), available through this AO, offer financial support and a collaborative platform for the development of impactful solutions that can drive India's progress in Earth Observation.

This opportunity empowers NGEi to develop scalable solutions that address global challenges, driving sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and water resource management using state-of-the-art spaceborne data.

SIA-India member Viasat India has entered into a strategic collaboration with BSNL aimed at commercialising uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions and advancing satellite-communications skills in India. 
The partnership will bring Viasat’s Velaris uncrewed-air solution—a satellite-communications service enabling UAVs to operate beyond visual line of sight—to the Indian market, leveraging its global L-band network for high-reliability connectivity. 
Work will also be carried out to establish a Centre of Excellence at BSNL’s training institute Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT) in Jabalpur to train engineering students in UAV, IoT and satellite-communications technologies. 
This collaboration represents a meaningful step toward building India’s low-altitude economy (aerial operations below 3,000 metres) and expanding the ecosystem for space-enabled services across drones, advanced air mobility and satellite-ground integration.

In a proud moment for India’s growing SpaceTech and AI ecosystem, SIA-India member GalaxEye has been selected among the Top 53 AI startups globally for the prestigious Google for Startups Gemini Founders Forum, held at Google Headquarters, Mountain View, California.
This recognition places GalaxEye among an exclusive global cohort of innovators leveraging artificial intelligence to drive breakthrough technologies across sectors. Notably, GalaxEye is the only company from the SpaceTech domainfeatured in this year’s selection — a testament to its pioneering work in multi-sensor satellite imaging and AI-powered Earth observation analytics.
GalaxEye’s achievement highlights India’s emergence as a hub for deep-tech innovation, where AI, data analytics, and space technology converge to deliver cutting-edge global solutions. SIA-India congratulates GalaxEye on this remarkable accomplishment.

SIA-India member OrbitAID Aerospace has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s ispace to advance sustainable lunar exploration and establish long-term operational capabilities on the Moon.
Under the agreement, OrbitAID — India’s first on-orbit refueling company — will integrate its Standardized Interface for Docking and Refueling Payload (SIDRP) into ispace’s upcoming lunar landers. The SIDRP technology will enable seamless docking, refueling, and recharging, extending the mission life and operational efficiency of lunar assets.
This collaboration aims to demonstrate in-situ refueling capabilities on the lunar surface — a key enabler for deep-space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. By combining ispace’s proven lunar delivery expertise with OrbitAID’s breakthrough refueling interface, the partnership is set to accelerate the development of a sustainable lunar economyand strengthen India’s presence in the global space technology value chain.

The Karman Project Week 2025, hosted in Bangalore, India, by SatSure — one of SIA-India’s valued members — is currently underway, bringing together an exceptional international community of space leaders, innovators, and visionaries.
The event holds special significance as SatSure’s co-founder, Prateep Basu, a Karman Fellow from one of the early cohorts, is now leading the organization that has taken on the responsibility of hosting this prestigious global forum. This milestone represents a full-circle moment, symbolizing how India’s emerging space entrepreneurs are giving back to global initiatives that helped shape their journeys.

Mr Anil Prakash
Director General, SIA-India

India and Luxembourg are set to deepen cooperation in science, technology, and space exploration as Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh met the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Mr. Christian Biever, in New Delhi today.

India’s space regulator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), has refused authorisation for communications satellites managed by China-linked entities, including ChinaSat, ApStar, and Hong Kong-based AsiaSat.