Click Here to View online version

The successful launch of the $1.5 billion NASA–ISRO NISAR mission aboard GSLV-F16 marks a pivotal moment in Indo-US space collaboration. Combining NASA’s advanced L-band SAR system with ISRO’s S-band radar, satellite bus, and launch services, the mission reflects India’s growing role as a co-architect in global Earth science initiatives. Once denied cryogenic technology, India now stands shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. in shaping the future of space. As India’s space economy scales from $8B to $44B by 2033, NISAR exemplifies the shift toward equitable, tech-driven partnerships in climate resilience and disaster response

Following the successful launch of the NASA–ISRO NISAR satellite aboard GSLV-F16, SIA-India joined stakeholders and partners at the USIBC office in New Delhi to witness this milestone event in real-time. 

The Karnataka Government has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technology in Bengaluru, allocating ₹10 crore over five years. Spearheaded by SIA-India and backed by Ananth Technologies, IISSR, KickSky, and BES Space, the CoE aligns with the Draft Karnataka Space Policy 2024 targeting 50% of India’s space economy by 2033 (~$22B). 

The initiative will focus on high-impact areas such as satellite manufacturing and communications, Earth observation and analytics, navigation and space situational awareness, in-orbit servicing and sustainable space operations, and AI and quantum communications in space. Over the next few years, the Centre of Excellence shall aim at incubating 20+ newSpace startups, generating 50+ research outputs, and building a future-ready workforce. The CoE will also begin its training programs, designed to upskill over 200 professionals in the first year, with a target of training over 2,000 professionals by the end of its fifth year. It will contribute towards the ambition of capturing 5% of the global space economy over the next decade, enable 10+ global joint ventures and technology transfers, and generate $100M in revenue from startup-led innovation. 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released a circular, seeking public comments on the Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2025. The policy outlines ambitious goals including universal and meaningful connectivity, doubling the sector’s GDP contribution and exports, attracting ₹1,00,000 crore in annual investments, boosting telecom startups, scaling R&D in emerging technologies, generating one million new jobs, and reducing the sector’s carbon footprint by 30%. With provisions related to spectrum access, emerging technologies, and digital infrastructure, the draft policy is poised to significantly impact the satellite communications ecosystem. In light of this, SIA-India urges all members and stakeholders to review the draft policy and submit their expert comments, suggestions, or feedback by 8th August 2025. Your inputs are critical in shaping a collective industry response and ensuring that the satellite sector's needs and opportunities are effectively represented. Kindly send your responses via email to rajith.ali@sia-india.com at the earliest convenience. 

The Startup Policy Forum has launched #100DesiDeepTechs, a national initiative to identify and support 100 breakthrough deep-tech startups. Backed by DPIIT’s Startup India, MeitY Startup Hub, and IIT Madras, the program offers selected startups access to exclusive policy roundtables, mentorship, and investor engagement. 

Covering sectors like EVs, AI, biotech, and defence, the initiative will culminate in a deep-tech policy whitepaper—reinforcing India’s innovation-led growth vision, underpinned by initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme and the Deep-Tech Fund of Funds. 

“Space on GeM” initiative, jointly led by IN-SPACe and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to enable structured procurement of space-based products and services. Following SIA-India’s earlier MoU with GeM, we are now actively collaborating with IN-SPACe to support the development of space-specific categories aligned with our shared objectives. 

A kick-off meeting held on 21 May 2025 convened NGEs, industry bodies, and government stakeholders to initiate discussions. Subsequently, six thematic working groups were formed to guide schema development and product listing strategies across diverse categories, including EO data, GIS software, user devices, value-added applications, education services, and custom bids. 

SIA-India participated in the 28 July 2025 working group session on “Satellite-based Geospatial Data, EO Products & Imagery.” Key discussions focused on defining classification models (raw, packaged, customised, co-developed), data schema by resolution and latency, and API integration for real-time data discovery. Participants also addressed Make-in-India (MII) compliance, the role of foreign data resellers, and the need for adopting global standards (BIS, OGC, CEOS) to ensure consistency across vendors. A hybrid model for assessing domestic value addition—through analytics, visualisation, and delivery layers—was also proposed to address MII challenges in EO products. 

The next working group session on “Value Added Solutions & Spacetech-Enabled Applications” is scheduled for 31 July 2025 at 11:00 AM IST. Members working in this domain are encouraged to nominate participants and prepare structured inputs. 

SIA-India had the privilege of meeting Ms Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary (Oceania), Ministry of External Affairs, to brief her on the association's ongoing initiatives and explore avenues for international collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. 

During the meeting, SIA-India highlighted its efforts to promote India’s space industry on the global stage through policy advocacy, industry-academia engagement, capacity building, and partnerships with key stakeholders across the Indo-Pacific region.  

The interaction reaffirmed MEA’s support for space as a pillar of India’s international partnerships and the need to strengthen industrial linkages in alignment with Indo-Pacific strategies. 

SIA-India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepalese Space Research Association (NESRA), marking a significant step toward advancing regional collaboration in the space domain. The partnership will focus on joint efforts in satellite communications, disaster management, small satellite development, policy harmonization, academic exchange, and research innovation. 

Key objectives include capacity building through training programs, joint R&D in Earth observation and AI/ML applications, and strengthened industry linkages via bilateral events such as the India Space Congress, DefSAT, and the Everest Aerospace Summit. This initiative reinforces the growing momentum toward a unified South Asian space ecosystem. 

SIA-India had the honour of meeting Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, to brief him on the association’s recent initiatives and ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s space industry. 

The delegation presented the executive report of the India Space Congress 2025, outlining key policy recommendations and collaborative pathways to support India's space ambitions. Discussions focused on enhancing public-private synergies, promoting newSpace startups, and aligning with national priorities such as Gaganyaan, deep space missions, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. 

The meeting reaffirmed SIA-India’s commitment to working closely with ISRO to drive innovation and global leadership in space. 

The 2nd meeting of the Asia-Pacific Preparatory Group (APG27/2) was recently convened in Pattaya, Thailand, bringing together policymakers, regulators, and industry representatives from across the region to prepare for the upcoming ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27). 

The APG plays a critical role in shaping regional consensus on spectrum management issues and developing coordinated proposals for submission to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). These deliberations are vital to ensuring that national and regional priorities are effectively represented on the global stage. 

SIA-India was represented by Mr. Rajith Ali, Senior Advisor – Radio Regulations, and Mr. Bashir Patel, Board Member, SIA-India. 

OrbitAID Aerospace has achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of its second Zero-Gravity flight, validating key technologies for in-orbit docking and refueling. The mission demonstrated real-time onboard processing, precise pose estimation for Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO), and seamless propellant transfer in a simulated microgravity environment. 

This breakthrough marks a critical advancement toward extending satellite lifespan and reducing space debris. By transforming in-orbit refueling from concept to capability, OrbitAID positions India at the forefront of next-generation space sustainability solutions. 

Mr Anil Prakash
Director General, SIA-India

India celebrates the successful undocking of the Axiom-4 mission, marking astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's return after 18 days on the ISS. Shukla, the second Indian in space ......