Context

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Indian Space Policy – 2023 has been approved and released in the public domain. 
• It aims to increase India’s share in the global space economy from less than 2% to 10%. 

What is the Indian Space Policy 2023?

• The Indian Space Policy 2023 is a comprehensive set of guidelines that outlines the roles and responsibilities of different entities in the Indian space sector. 
• It aims to encourage and institutionalize private sector participation in India’s space sector, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) primarily focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies. 
• It will provide the private sector with greater access to ISRO’s infrastructure, technology and expertise to support their space-related activities.

Highlights of the Policy

• The Space Policy creates four distinct, but related entities, that will facilitate greater private sector participation in activities that have usually been the traditional domain of ISRO.

1. InSPACe:

• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (InSPACe) will be a “single window” clearance and authorisation agency for space launches, establishing launch pads, buying and selling satellites, and disseminating high-resolution data among other things.
• It will also develop space industry standards, promote identified space activities and work with academia to widen the space ecosystem and enable industry-academia linkages.

2. ISRO:

• ISRO, as the National Space Agency, will focus primarily on research and development of new space technologies and applications, and for expanding the human understanding of outer space. 
• It will also share technologies, products, processes and best practices with NGEs (non-government entities) and government companies.

3. New Space India Limited:

• NSIL, as the Public Sector Undertaking under Department of Space (DOS), will be responsible for commercialising space technologies and platforms created through public expenditure.
• NSIL will also be responsible for manufacture, lease, or procure space components, technologies, platforms and other assets from the private or public sector, on sound commercial principles. 

4. Department of Space:

• Finally, the Department of Space will provide overall policy guidelines and be the “nodal” department for implementation of the Indian Space Policy-2023. 
• It will also be responsible for international cooperation and coordination in the area of global space governance and programmes in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.
• It will also create an appropriate mechanism to resolve disputes arising out of space activity.

Other Key Features 

Private Sector Participation

• Another key feature of the Indian Space Policy 2023 is the entry of the private sector into end-to-end space activities. 
• Private companies will be allowed to build satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, and engage in data collection and dissemination. 
• It encourages private companies to invest in creating new infrastructure for the space sector and use ISRO facilities for a small charge.

Space sector of India

• India’s space sector is globally recognized for cost-effective satellite building, and it advocates for peaceful and civilian use of outer space. 
• ISRO has an exceptional success rate and is the 6th largest space agency globally. 
• ISRO also launched a student outreach program called SAMVAD to encourage space research among young minds.
• However, the space sector faces major challenges as well including a lack of regulations on commercialisation which could lead to monopolisation, rising space debris from increasing expeditions, China’s rapid growth in the space industry and potential weaponization, and an increasing global trust deficit creating an environment of suspicion and potential conflict.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1947441