"The response we have witnessed over the last two days demonstrates the growing confidence in India's space economy and the willingness of stakeholders across the ecosystem to collaborate in shaping its future. From policy reforms and international partnerships to new industry platforms and emerging technology opportunities, India Space Congress is helping bring together the conversations and collaborations that will define the next decade of growth for the sector."

"We have created the building blocks for talent, innovation and industry growth. I ask the industry to generously offer internships, hire from these programmes, co-design curricula, use the resident experts in the space labs and leverage the IN-SPACe Tech Centre fully. Invest in each other. Collaborate deliberately. SIA-India exists precisely to make possible these connections."

"Space is no longer a distant frontier explored by a few actors. It is now a theatre where economies prosper, militaries operate, and diplomacy is projected. Space underpins the entire spectrum of national power, from communications and positioning to intelligence, targeting, and environmental monitoring. The fusion of cyberspace and outer space has created a single contested domain where jamming, spoofing, and cyberattacks in space can rapidly translate into crises on Earth."

“India stands at the intersection of innovation and diplomacy, uniquely positioned to bridge technological ambition with global responsibility. In the space age, leadership will be measured not only by what we launch into orbit, but by the trust and consensus we build on Earth."

"As we imagine the global space landscape with us, the principles of peace, sustainability, and responsible behavior should remain at the heart of our policies, programs, and initiatives. As we harness the transformative potential of space science and technology, our shared future will depend on our collective ability to seize emerging opportunities and address present challenges together. The Philippines is ready to work with India and all international partners to ensure that outer space remains accessible and beneficial for present and future generations."

SIA-India extends its sincere gratitude to the Government Ministries, Departments, agencies, research institutions, and strategic partners whose continued support contributed significantly to the success of the 5th India Space Congress. We acknowledge the valuable support and participation of the Ministry of Defence – Department of Defence Production (MoD-DDP), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Government e-Marketplace (GeM), National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), and The Aeronautical Society of India, whose engagement enriched the deliberations and strengthened the outcomes of the Congress.  

SIA-India also places on record its special appreciation for the active participation and continued support of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), whose leadership, insights, and engagement played an important role in advancing discussions on the future of India's space ecosystem.

The success of ISC 2026 was strengthened by the support and engagement of its Knowledge Partners, whose expertise and thought leadership contributed significantly to the depth and quality of the Congress. Through research, domain knowledge, and active participation in discussions, they helped advance evidence-based dialogue on the opportunities, challenges, and priorities shaping the future of the space sector. SIA-India gratefully acknowledges their partnership and continued commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange across the global space ecosystem.

SIA-India extends its sincere appreciation to the exhibitors of ISC 2026, whose participation showcased the breadth, depth, and innovation driving India's space and technology ecosystem. We thank Dassault Systèmes, Incise Infotech Limited, ChipSpirit Technologies, Aule Space, IIT Tirupati, VyomIC, Siddhi Engineers, XDLINX Labs, Ulook, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Geminus Space, Ananth Technologies Limited, Centre of Excellence – Karnataka, Geospatial World, and ELCINA for their valuable contribution to the Congress. Through their technologies, solutions, research, and capabilities, these organisations helped foster meaningful engagement, industry collaboration, and knowledge exchange, enriching the overall experience for delegates and stakeholders.

ISC 2026 marked a significant step forward in strengthening the visibility of India's growing space ecosystem with the expansion of the Indian Space Industry e-Catalogue (IndSpaceHub). Developed by SIA-India and powered by Hughes Systique, the platform has evolved into one of the most comprehensive digital repositories of India's space and defence capabilities, encompassing nearly 20 domains, over 120 sub-domains, and more than 200 companies. Beyond serving as a directory, IndSpaceHub is emerging as a strategic enabler of collaboration, connecting industry, government, academia, investors, and international stakeholders through a single digital gateway. As India advances towards becoming a leading global space power, the platform will play an increasingly important role in enhancing discoverability, fostering partnerships, and showcasing indigenous innovation to the world.

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GeoNiti – India's First National Space Policy Ideathon, organised by SIA-India in partnership with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), provided a unique platform for students and young professionals to explore the intersection of space technology, Earth observation, and public policy. Built around the belief that space-based data can serve as a powerful tool for governance and decision-making, the Ideathon challenged participants to develop innovative policy solutions addressing real-world challenges. The overwhelming response and quality of submissions reflected the growing interest among young minds in leveraging space technologies for societal impact. SIA-India congratulates the winning team and all participants for their creativity, analytical rigour, and commitment to shaping the future of space-enabled policymaking.

The Global Call for Papers, organised by SIA-India in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence – Karnataka, received an overwhelming response from researchers, students, industry professionals, and innovators, reflecting the growing depth of interest in the evolving space sector. Submissions covered a diverse range of themes and showcased innovative thinking, technical excellence, and fresh perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of space. Following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an expert jury, the most outstanding papers were shortlisted for presentation at ISC 2026. SIA-India proudly recognises and congratulates the winners for their exceptional contributions, which exemplify the spirit of research, innovation, and thought leadership that will help shape the next era of the global space ecosystem.

The ISC Excellence Awards 2026 celebrated organisations and individuals whose contributions are helping advance India's space ecosystem through innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and technological excellence. Instituted to recognise outstanding achievements across the sector, the awards honoured pioneering efforts that are driving growth, strengthening capabilities, and creating new opportunities within the space economy. By recognising both established leaders and emerging innovators, the awards reflected the dynamism, diversity, and ambition that characterise India's rapidly evolving space sector.

In addition to the award categories, SIA-India conferred Special Citations upon Dr. Shailesh Nayak, former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), and Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, CMD, Ananth Technologies, in recognition of their distinguished leadership and enduring contributions towards advancing India's scientific, technological, and space ecosystem. These honours acknowledged their pivotal role in fostering innovation, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting the growth of India's space sector.

SIA-India congratulates all award recipients and citation awardees for their exceptional accomplishments and continued commitment to shaping the future of the industry.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the draft "Telecommunications (Spectrum Assignment by Administrative Process) Rules", 2026, laying out the framework for administrative allocation of satellite communication spectrum in India. The draft introduces an additional layer of security oversight, requiring satellite operators to obtain government security clearances before spectrum assignment and commercial service rollout. It also stipulates that satellite communication networks cannot interconnect with public telecommunications networks, including mobile, fixed-line, satellite phone, and internet networks, without prior government approval. The proposed framework provides for administrative assignment of spectrum, establishes applicable fees and charges, and opens a 30-day consultation period for stakeholder feedback. Notably, the current draft primarily addresses geostationary satellite services, while the framework for non-geostationary (NGSO) operators remains under consideration.

SIA-India has consistently advocated for the administrative assignment of satellite spectrum, in line with global best practices and the unique characteristics of satellite communications. The release of the draft rules therefore marks an important milestone in operationalising the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and providing long-awaited regulatory clarity for the sector. While the emphasis on national security and regulatory oversight reflects the strategic nature of satellite communications, the industry will look forward to greater clarity on approval timelines, compliance requirements, and implementation mechanisms to ensure ease of doing business. As India prepares for the large-scale deployment of satellite broadband and emerging Direct-to-Device services, a transparent, predictable, and technology-neutral authorisation framework will be essential to attract investment, accelerate service rollout, and strengthen India's position as a leading satellite communications market. The consultation process also presents an opportunity to address outstanding issues, including the treatment of NGSO systems and evolving service categories, ensuring a comprehensive and future-ready regulatory framework.

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In a significant move to accelerate the adoption of space-based solutions across the economy, IN-SPACe has identified 15 high-impact use cases spanning agriculture, disaster management, water resources, infrastructure planning, and governance. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between space technologies and real-world applications by supporting pilot projects and encouraging wider industry participation.

SIA-India welcomes this initiative, as it reinforces the importance of unlocking the downstream space economy and expanding the use of space-based solutions for socio-economic development. By fostering collaboration between government, industry, startups, and end-users, the programme can accelerate the commercial adoption of satellite-enabled services while demonstrating the transformative impact of space technologies across critical sectors. Such efforts are essential to creating sustainable demand, encouraging innovation, and advancing India's ambition of becoming a leading global space economy.

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ISRO has issued an Announcement of Opportunity inviting Indian scientists and researchers to submit proposals for accessing data from the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission, India's first dedicated space observatory for X-ray polarimetry. The initiative aims to expand scientific utilisation of the mission's data, enabling researchers to advance studies on black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and other high-energy astronomical phenomena. By opening access to the country's scientific community, the programme is expected to strengthen India's space science ecosystem and foster greater collaboration between ISRO, academia, and research institutions.

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As part of its Leading Exhibition Access Programme (LEAP), SIA-India is facilitating the participation of Indian space companies at SPACETIDE 2026 from -6-9 July in Tokyo, Japan - one of Asia's premier space business conferences. The initiative aims to provide Indian enterprises with a dedicated platform to showcase their capabilities, engage with global industry leaders, explore international partnerships, and access new business opportunities. Through LEAP, SIA-India continues to strengthen the global presence of India's private space sector by enabling market access, fostering cross-border collaboration, and supporting the internationalisation of indigenous space technologies.

The delegation is consist of the companies representative from ; RegStack Access, Digantara, Vishal Mathur Consultants LLP, Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., OrbitAID, Geospatial World, Sanyark Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Kepler Aerospace, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd., and Samtel Avionics Ltd. 

SIA-India is collaborating with Andhra University and the AP State Space Tech Academy to organise a three-day National Space Conclave in August 2026 as part of India's National Space Day celebrations. The proposal was discussed during a strategic meeting between SIA-India President Dr. Pavuluri Subba Rao and Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. G.P. Raja Sekhar. The conclave will bring together academia, industry, policymakers, and researchers through keynote sessions, technical paper presentations, and a dedicated space and defence technology exhibition, reinforcing SIA-India's commitment to strengthening industry-academia collaboration and nurturing the next generation of space talent.

SIA-India actively represented the voice of India's private space sector at the 10th IN-SPACe Industry Connect Conference (IIC-10), where Director General Mr. Anil Prakash outlined key industry priorities to accelerate the growth of the commercial space ecosystem. These included the need for streamlined authorisation processes, greater access to testing and launch infrastructure, dedicated research and innovation funding, stronger industry-academia collaboration, and measures to improve ease of doing business for space enterprises. Several of these priorities found resonance in the announcements made by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, during the 5th India Space Congress, reaffirming the value of sustained industry-government dialogue in shaping an enabling policy environment for India's rapidly evolving space sector.

SatSure has secured a ₹24.6 crore ($2.57 million) grant from IN-SPACe to develop large-scale AI-powered Earth Observation (EO) models tailored to Indian conditions. The initiative will leverage satellite and drone-derived data to enhance applications across agriculture, climate monitoring, disaster management, infrastructure planning, and geospatial intelligence. The grant underscores the growing convergence of space technologies and artificial intelligence, while strengthening India's indigenous capabilities in Earth observation analytics and data-driven decision-making.

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Dhruva Space has secured ₹105 crore under the Government of India's Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) to develop Project Garud - an indigenous, modular 500 kg-class communications satellite platform for constellation-scale missions. The project will transition satellite production from bespoke designs to a standardised, manufacturing-ready architecture, supporting applications across telecommunications, defence, Earth observation, and strategic sectors. The initiative also includes the establishment of high-volume manufacturing infrastructure capable of producing up to 500–600 satellites annually, strengthening India's sovereign satellite manufacturing capabilities and positioning the country as a globally competitive spacecraft production hub.

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SIA-India congratulates its members Dhruva Space, Ethereal Exploration Guild, and OrbitAID Aerospace on being named World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers 2026. The prestigious recognition honours early-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies with the potential to address global challenges and transform industries.

The three companies were recognised for their pioneering contributions across critical segments of the space value chain - Dhruva Space for advancing indigenous small satellite platforms, Ethereal Exploration Guild for developing reusable medium-lift launch vehicles to enable affordable access to space, and OrbitAID Aerospace for pioneering on-orbit servicing technologies, including satellite refuelling, repair, and de-orbiting. Their inclusion in the 2026 cohort reflects the growing global recognition of India's private space sector and its emergence as a source of transformative innovation in the next generation of space technologies.

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XDLINX Space Labs has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan-based Infostellar to integrate global ground station services into its end-to-end satellite mission offerings. By combining XDLINX's expertise in satellite design, manufacturing, integration, and mission operations with Infostellar's cloud-native StellarStation network and Launch & Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) support, the partnership will provide satellite operators with seamless access to worldwide ground infrastructure through a single interface. The collaboration is expected to simplify mission operations, reduce operational complexity, and enhance the scalability and resilience of commercial satellite services for customers across the globe.

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SIA-India member Red Balloon Aerospace has successfully launched Mission SANA, India's first indigenous commercial super-pressure balloon platform, marking the country's entry into an exclusive group of nations with indigenous stratospheric balloon capability. The VISTA platform ascended to nearly 25 km, carrying commercial payloads from seven national and international partners to validate applications in Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation, propulsion, and life sciences. The milestone demonstrates the growing potential of near-space platforms as a cost-effective complement to satellites for persistent, high-resolution data collection and technology validation.

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SIA-India welcomes Cosmos Technologies as a new member. The company specialises in strategic sourcing, supply chain solutions, and technology integration for the aerospace, defence, space, and airport sectors. By connecting global technology providers with Indian industry, Cosmos Technologies supports the development of mission-critical systems and strengthens the country's growing aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

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SIA-India welcomes ULOOK Space as a new member. The company focuses on developing advanced satellite mission solutions, encompassing spacecraft engineering, mission operations, and space data applications. Through innovative technologies and end-to-end mission capabilities, ULOOK Space is contributing to the expansion of India's commercial space ecosystem.

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SIA-India welcomes ChipSpirit as a new member. The company designs high-performance semiconductor and embedded electronic solutions for aerospace, defence, and space applications. Its expertise in advanced electronics and system-on-chip technologies supports the development of reliable, indigenous hardware for next-generation space systems.

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SIA-India welcomes Orbitt Space as a new member. The company is building innovative satellite and space infrastructure solutions aimed at advancing India's commercial space capabilities. With a focus on developing scalable technologies for the evolving NewSpace ecosystem, Orbitt Space is contributing to the country's growing space innovation landscape.

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Mr Anil Prakash
Director General, SIA-India

Industry leaders at India Space Congress 2026 highlighted India's transition from component manufacturing to building sovereign satellite constellations. Discussions focused on regulatory reforms, private sector participation, high-speed communication networks, and strengthening India's position as a global space technology and infrastructure powerhouse.

India Space Congress 2026 showcased how private space companies are developing advanced Earth observation, navigation, and electronic intelligence capabilities. From AI-enabled satellites to sovereign positioning systems, startups are strengthening India's strategic space ecosystem while complementing national programmes like NavIC.

At India Space Congress 2026, XDLINX Space Labs announced its upcoming self-funded imaging satellite mission, followed by a second launch in 2027. The company's software-defined satellite platform enables multiple mission capabilities, while onboard edge computing improves data processing efficiency in orbit.

IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka said the global attention surrounding SpaceX's IPO is expected to encourage Indian space companies and investors to pursue larger ambitions. He highlighted policy reforms, government support, and growing private participation as key drivers of India's expanding commercial space ecosystem.

Ananth Technologies unveiled a sensor-enabled food container designed for India's Gaganyaan astronauts. Developed with DRDO's Defence Food Research Laboratory, the innovative system will monitor food quality throughout the mission, supporting astronaut safety and showcasing India's growing human spaceflight capabilities.

Speaking at India Space Congress 2026, IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka urged investors to view space as a long-term industrial opportunity. He encouraged greater investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, talent development, and international collaboration to help achieve India's projected $44 billion space economy by 2033.

As SpaceX prepares for its record-breaking IPO, Starlink remains the company's only profitable business. While subscriber growth continues, declining revenue per user and increasing competition present new challenges. The success of next-generation Starship rockets and V3 satellites will be key to expanding Starlink's global broadband capabilities.

China has announced plans to double the size of its Tiangong space station by adding three new modules and a co-orbiting space telescope. The expansion will enhance scientific research, increase docking capacity, and support more frequent crewed and cargo missions as the International Space Station approaches retirement.

Arianespace will deploy 36 Amazon Leo satellites aboard the upgraded Ariane 64 rocket, marking its most powerful mission to date. The launch introduces advanced P160C boosters, increasing payload capacity and supporting the continued expansion of Amazon's low Earth orbit broadband constellation for global connectivity.