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SIA-India Newsletter – August 2025 Second Edition 

India observed National Space Day on August 23, commemorating the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing and celebrating the nation’s remarkable journey from Aryabhata to Gaganyaan. The day was marked by nationwide events, with the central ceremony at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, graced by senior leaders, scientists, industry representatives, and students. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the gathering, highlighting India’s achievements on the Moon and Mars and urging scientists to prepare for deep-space exploration. The four Gaganyatris, set to script history with India’s first human spaceflight, also inspired young minds with their presence. Across states, schools and universities engaged millions of students in interactive activities, fostering curiosity in space science and innovation. The celebrations reinforced India’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities, nurturing talent, and building a strong collaborative ecosystem with industry, academia, and global partners to shape the future of space exploration.

The Government of India has launched the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with an incentive outlay of ₹22,900 crore to strengthen the domestic electronics ecosystem and reduce reliance on imports. The scheme provides financial support of up to 25% on capital expenditure for the manufacturing of critical components, including semiconductors, sensors, magnets, ferrites, and advanced materials.
India currently imports over 85% of high-end electronic components, with domestic value addition limited to about 15–20%. ECMS seeks to raise this figure to 40–45% in the coming years, thereby embedding India more firmly into the global electronics value chain.
For the space sector, the scheme is of particular importance. Satellites, launch vehicles, and ground systems rely on highly specialized components such as radiation-hardened chips, power semiconductors, high-frequency sensors, and passive components—most of which are imported at a premium. With India’s space economy projected to reach USD 44 billion by 2033, a localized supply chain under ECMS could significantly lower mission costs, enhance supply chain resilience, and ensure strategic self-reliance in critical space technologies.
Industry experts highlight that the synergy between ECMS, the PLI Scheme for Semiconductors, and the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme creates a comprehensive framework for fostering innovation. This integrated approach could enable space-tech startups to co-develop high-reliability electronics with domestic manufacturers, driving advances in miniaturized satellites, advanced payload design, and next-generation space systems. By catalyzing indigenous manufacturing, ECMS not only aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision but also positions the country to become a global hub for space-grade electronics, serving both national missions and the international commercial satellite market.

SIA-India, in collaboration with IN-SPACe and leading Australian stakeholders, successfully concluded the IAC 2025 Briefing Webinar aimed at helping participants maximize their engagement at the upcoming International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 in Sydney. The session featured insights from the Australian Space Agency, Austrade, the Government of New South Wales, and IAC 2025 organizers, providing a comprehensive overview of opportunities for collaboration and industry engagement.
As part of its facilitation efforts, SIA-India is extending a range of support for delegates, including business matchmaking and B2B support through pre-arranged meetings and tailored introductions, international engagement via high-level side meetings and immersion programs, and exclusive site visits in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney with industry leaders and government agencies. Delegates will also benefit from networking receptions, visa facilitation, a delegation booklet for enhanced visibility, and on-ground concierge services to ensure seamless participation. Through these initiatives, SIA-India is committed to enabling Indian companies to forge meaningful partnerships and showcase their capabilities at the world’s premier space congress.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a major milestone in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme by successfully completing its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. In this test, a 4.8-tonne dummy crew module was lifted to an altitude of around 3 km using an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released to validate the crew module’s parachute-based deceleration system under realistic flight conditions. The system involved a complex sequence of parachutes—two Apex Cover Separation (ACS), two Drogue, three Pilot, and three Main chutes—that collectively reduced the module’s descent velocity to a safe splashdown speed of about 8 m/s. The multi-agency operation, supported by ISRO, DRDO’s ADRDE (Agra), the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, concluded with a successful splashdown and recovery of the module by INS Anvesha, which later transported it to Chennai. This achievement marks a critical step forward in qualifying the crew module systems. ISRO’s next steps on the roadmap include the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) abort demonstration, followed by the first uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 mission later in 2025, with the eventual goal of launching India’s first crewed mission in 2027.

SIA-India, in collaboration with KPMG India, is organising a focused webinar on the Electronic Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 4th September 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The session will provide industry professionals with a unique opportunity to understand the scheme’s incentives, aimed at bridging India’s component supply gap and reducing import reliance.
The discussion will cover the scheme’s mechanics, segment-specific benefits, and strategies for positioning within the space-tech value chain. While ECMS is being hailed as a “game-changing intervention”, its success will depend on strengthening supply chain resilience and addressing challenges such as rare-earth material fragility, skill shortages, and policy-level frictions.

The Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) and the Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines (EIAPI) have signed an MoU to co-develop and drive joint research in satellite communications, IoT devices, and space electronics. The collaboration seeks to deepen industry ties, promote innovation, and position the Philippines as an active contributor to the Indo-Pacific technology ecosystem.
“Through joint projects, innovation, and skill development, we aim to translate this vision into practical outcomes that will strengthen both nations' space and electronics ecosystems,” said Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India.

SIA-India is pleased to present its latest publication, “The 100 Km Conundrum – Why the Kármán Line Should be 84 km,” authored by Shri Rajeev Gambhir, Deputy Director General, SIA-India. The article examines the long-standing debate on where the atmosphere ends and space begins, highlighting the profound implications for aviation law, space treaties, defence strategies, and the future of suborbital flights.
Mr. Gambhir underscores that the internationally accepted 100 km Kármán Line is arbitrary, creating a legal vacuum with significant consequences for sovereignty and international law. He points out that while the Chicago Convention affirms complete sovereignty over national airspace, it fails to define the vertical extent of that sovereignty—leaving a “grey area” for emerging aerospace activities.
Through this critical analysis, the publication calls for a reassessment of the boundary, advocating for 84 km as a more scientifically and legally coherent demarcation.

Supporting the nation-wide endeavour, SIA-India launched the “Space Kalpana” competition in association with Nabhah Cosmos and the Society for Space Education Research & Development (SSERD). The initiative received an overwhelming response from students across the country, reflecting their creativity and passion for space. Through the three categories in three competitions -essay writing, poster making, and creative video—school students showcased their imagination, scientific curiosity, and innovative ideas for the future of space exploration. 
SIA-India congratulates all the winners whose contributions, whether in essays, posters, or creative videos, stand as sparks of innovation that will inspire many more to dream beyond boundaries. Certificates and space goodies will soon be reaching the participants, but more importantly, this recognition is envisioned as a launchpad for their journey ahead.

Shri Rajeev Gambhir, Deputy Director General of SIA-India, delivered an inspiring address that encouraged students to challenge conventional wisdom and think beyond established boundaries.
Speaking to the young minds, he remarked, “When I listen to young scholars and startups today, with your disruptive ideas and unfiltered imagination, I feel 18 again. The passion, the energy, the daring to ask 'why not' instead of settling for ‘what is’ - it’s contagious.” The session left students with fresh perspectives on the interplay of science, policy, and human imagination in shaping the future of space exploration.

SIA-India was proud to contribute to the Global Summit on Productivity in the Age of AI (GSPAi), held on 20–21 August 2025 at Le Méridien, New Delhi. In his intervention, Shri Anil Prakash, Director General of SIA-India, emphasized the transformative role of geospatial technology powered by satellites in driving India’s growth story.
He noted that geospatial intelligence is fast becoming the backbone of India’s infrastructure, logistics, and automotive sectors. With ISRO making vast repositories of satellite data available through platforms like Bhuvan, industry now has unprecedented access to open-source intelligence that is enabling smarter roads, efficient supply chains, and connected mobility solutions.
At the intersection of space technology and artificial intelligence, SIA-India underlined the immense potential to unlock new levels of productivity, strengthen digital infrastructure, and accelerate the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

SIA-India, in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), convened the first DefSat Precursor Roundtable on the theme “Application of Space for Future Wars: Guiding the 5G Road.” The session brought together defence experts, technologists, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities in leveraging space for national security.
Discussions explored the evolving “space triad” of hide–dominate–deter–deny–destroy, highlighting the critical role of high-throughput broadband technologies in modern warfare. Participants emphasized the importance of building network operation centres, strengthening early-warning systems across land, sea, and air domains, and addressing ethical considerations in space conflict.
The roundtable also examined the commercial aspects of military-owned space assets, potential applications in civil defence and disaster management, and the use of multi-orbit constellations for resilient communication during crises. Further recommendations included integrating remote sensing for predictive analysis, establishing a national-level C4I command force, addressing the shortage of emergency S-band bandwidth, and enhancing ground infrastructure to complement space-based capabilities.
This session is part of a series of precursor roundtables that will continue in the coming months to enhance scenarios for the IndSpaceX 4.0 wargame exercise, to be conducted during the DefSat Conference and Expo, scheduled for 24–26 February 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the AWS Space Accelerator: APJ, a 10-week virtual program designed to empower 40 space-tech startups across India, Japan, and Australia. SIA-India is proud to join as an Industry Partner in this initiative, which seeks to fuel innovation and support the next generation of transformative space solutions.
The accelerator is open to startups at all stages and will provide business guidance, technical leadership, and mentorship from venture capitalists and industry experts. Selected participants will gain deep exposure to AWS cloud capabilities, along with insights on product-market fit, minimum viable product (MVP) development, go-to-market strategies, and fundraising. With a mission to foster space-tech innovation across the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, the program will help startups scale globally, strengthen their competitiveness, and realize their full potential.

The Government of Karnataka is planning to host the Space Applications Adoption Workshop (SAAW) in early October 2025 at Bengaluru, with exact dates to be finalized shortly. The workshop will bring together user agencies across the state to explore the adoption of space-based solutions for governance and development.
Ahead of the event, a Pre-Event User Interaction Meet was held virtually on 7 August 2025, where state departments outlined their key problem statements and use cases. These included areas such as soil and water resource management, flood and drought prediction, agricultural monitoring, pollution control, mining rehabilitation, and power distribution planning. Industry partners have been invited to align their solutions with these needs and submit presentation proposals by the extended deadline of 10 September 2025.

The Cosmic Girls Foundation has announced a pioneering initiative to inspire and empower young women in space and STEM. Girls aged 14–19 worldwide are invited to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undergo astronaut training, including Zero-G flights, human centrifuge sessions, and global media exposure.
Six finalists, representing each continent, will be selected for the program, and from among them, one exceptional winner (aged 18+) will secure a place on a suborbital spaceflight.
This initiative resonates with global efforts such as Space4Women, which aim to promote gender equality by enabling more young women to access opportunities in space exploration and related technologies.

Learn more and apply: Click here.

SIA-India member Dhruva Space has successfully executed the deployment of its LEAP-1 mission, marking a major milestone in India’s private space journey. The satellite was deployed using MECANO ID’s EOS-B8 Ring Deployer, marking its maiden flight and establishing flight heritage through this mission. The achievement also signifies Dhruva’s entry into nano- and micro-satellite deployment, expanding its capabilities in the commercial space domain. In addition, Dhruva undertook the integration of the LEAP-1 satellite with a SpaceX launch vehicle—making it one of the first private Indian companies to carry out this critical step entirely in-house.

Mr Anil Prakash
Director General, SIA-India

Space industry associations of India and the Philippines have joined hands to deepen cooperation in the fields of electronics, space and satellite communication technologies, as private players are set to soar in the two countries.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has facilitated the transfer of five technologies developed by ISRO to five Indian companies.