Agencies & public sector
Department of Space
India's cabinet department for space, answering to the Prime Minister and running ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL and PRL on ₹13,705.63 crore for 2026-27.
The Department of Space is the Government of India's cabinet department for space activity, and the minister responsible for it is the Prime Minister. The government constituted the Space Commission and set up the department in June 1972, then brought the Indian Space Research Organisation under it that September. The department's stated primary objective is promoting development and application of space science and technology to assist in all-round development of the nation, while the Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme. Its secretariat shares Antariksh Bhavan on New BEL Road in Bengaluru with ISRO headquarters, and V. Narayanan has held the posts of Secretary of Space and ISRO chairman since 14 January 2025.
Delivery runs through a group of bodies the department controls. ISRO handles research and development; the Physical Research Laboratory, the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, the North Eastern-Space Applications Centre and the Semi-Conductor Laboratory carry out specialised work; IN-SPACe regulates and promotes private activity; NewSpace India Limited and Antrix Corporation handle commerce; and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology trains engineers. The union budget presented on 1 February 2026 gave the department ₹13,705.63 crore for 2026-27, against a revised estimate of ₹12,448.60 crore for 2025-26. The largest single head, ₹10,397.06 crore, is about 76 per cent of the total; space sciences rose to ₹569.76 crore, the INSAT satellite systems line fell to ₹130.93 crore, and NewSpace India Limited's share rose to ₹1,403 crore from ₹1,030 crore.
The department has been the instrument of India's opening of space to private industry. India Briefing, writing in February 2024, recorded that the Indian Space Policy 2023 was unveiled on 20 April 2023 and that revised foreign-investment rules permit up to 100 per cent FDI through the automatic route for manufacturing satellite components and ground and user segment systems, up to 74 per cent for satellite manufacturing and operation, and up to 49 per cent for launch vehicles, associated systems and spaceports. On 23 July 2026 Minister of State Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that cumulative private investment in the sector had reached USD 618.5 million as of 31 March 2026, that 105 authorisations had been issued to non-government entities as of 14 July 2026, that 17 space startups were authorised, and that private companies had placed more than 30 satellites in orbit and flown nearly 45 payloads.
The department's record also carries shortfalls. A budget analysis published by Technopolitik on 10 February 2026 found that since 2020 the department has failed to spend even its revised budgets, leaving over ₹12,000 crore unspent, effectively an entire year's worth of funding, and that within 2024-25 the Gaganyaan line was cut from ₹1,200 crore to ₹847 crore and the semi-cryogenic engine line from ₹190 crore to ₹115 crore. Gaganyaan, whose scope the Union Cabinet enlarged in September 2024 to ₹20,193 crore for eight missions by December 2028 plus the first Bharatiya Antariksh Station module, has slipped repeatedly; The Register reported on 14 July 2026 that the first crewed flight was first set for 2022, then reset to 2024, and that the uncrewed mission planned for 2025 had not flown. The 2026-27 allocation also fell short of the ₹15,000-18,000 crore that analysts quoted by The Week in January 2026 had expected.
What they build and operate
- Gaganyaan · Programme · In development
India's human spaceflight programme, enlarged by the Union Cabinet in September 2024 to ₹20,193 crore covering eight missions by December 2028; the first crewed flight was originally set for 2022 and had not flown as of July 2026.[6][8] - Bharatiya Antariksh Station · Programme · In development
Indian space station whose first module is funded inside the expanded Gaganyaan programme, with the full station targeted to be operational in 2035.[6] - Indian Space Policy 2023 · Programme · Operational
Policy framework unveiled on 20 April 2023 that sets the roles of the department, ISRO, IN-SPACe and NewSpace India Limited and opens space activity to non-government entities.[9] - INSAT satellite systems programme · Programme · Operational
The department's communications and meteorology satellite programme; its budget line fell to ₹130.93 crore for 2026-27 from ₹205.95 crore the previous year.[1][3]
Milestones
- June 1972
The Government of India constituted the Space Commission and established the Department of Space.[1][2] - September 1972
The Indian Space Research Organisation was brought under the Department of Space.[1] - 20 April 2023
The Indian Space Policy 2023 was unveiled, setting the roles of the department, ISRO, IN-SPACe and NewSpace India Limited.[9] - February 2024
Revised foreign-investment rules opened satellite component manufacturing to 100 per cent FDI on the automatic route, with 74 per cent for satellite manufacturing and operation and 49 per cent for launch vehicles and spaceports.[9] - 18 September 2024
The Union Cabinet enlarged the Gaganyaan programme to ₹20,193 crore, adding ₹11,170 crore, eight missions by December 2028 and the first Bharatiya Antariksh Station module.[6] - 01 February 2026
The union budget allocated the department ₹13,705.63 crore for 2026-27 against a revised estimate of ₹12,448.60 crore, short of the ₹15,000-18,000 crore analysts had expected.[3][5] - 10 February 2026
Published budget analysis found the department had left over ₹12,000 crore of its revised budgets unspent since 2020, with the 2024-25 Gaganyaan line cut from ₹1,200 crore to ₹847 crore.[4] - 14 July 2026
Gaganyaan remained unflown as crew-module qualification tests continued, after the first crewed flight slipped from 2022 to 2024 and the uncrewed mission planned for 2025 did not launch.[8] - 23 July 2026
Minister of State Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that private investment in India's space sector had crossed USD 618.5 million as of 31 March 2026, with 105 authorisations issued to non-government entities as of 14 July 2026.[7]
Facilities
- Antariksh Bhavan · New BEL Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Secretariat of the Department of Space, shared with ISRO headquarters.[1][2]
Leadership
- Narendra Modi
Prime Minister, in charge of the Department of Space in the portfolio list issued for the council of ministers sworn in on 9 June 2024 (as of June 2024)[10][2] - Jitendra Singh
Minister of State in the Department of Space (as of June 2024)[10][2][7] - V. Narayanan
Secretary of Space and Chairman, ISRO, succeeding S. Somanath (as of 14 January 2025)[2]
Sources
ISRODepartment of Space and ISRO HQisro.gov.in
WikipediaDepartment of Spaceen.wikipedia.org
Business TodayBudget 2026: ISRO sees modest funding hike for 2026-27 as Department of Space gets Rs 13,705 crorebusinesstoday.in
Technopolitik#148 Budget Analysis: Spacehightechir.substack.com
The WeekWhat India's space sector wants from Union Budget 2026theweek.in
DD NewsUnion Cabinet approves major expansion of Gaganyaan program with development of Bharatiya Antariksh Stationddnews.gov.in
DD IndiaPrivate investment in India's space sector crosses $618 million: Jitendra Singhddindia.co.in
The RegisterIndia's crewed space mission is ready for splashdown, but not launchtheregister.com
India BriefingIndia Permits Up To 100% FDI in Space Sectorindia-briefing.com
Prime Minister's OfficeList of Council of Ministers with Portfolios (sworn in on 09.06.2024)pmindia.gov.in
Coverage of Department of Space
Space policy
ISRO plans gradual transfer of mature rocket manufacturing to industry
PSLV and LVM3 transfer calls were already limited to private Indian entities. The change concerns who builds and commercialises mature vehicles, not an immediate end to ISRO missions or government launch work.
Space safety
India documents start of debris-removal precursor demonstrations
The August 13 parliamentary reply connects policy and on-orbit trials, but names no target object, removal attempt, operational system or timetable.
Launch industry
Industry-built PSLV targets March 2027 launch
The reported date is at least nine months later than a Q1 2026 target disclosed to Parliament, although first-stage stacking began in December. No reviewed source gives a cause.
Launch
India proposes semi-cryogenic LVM3 for Chandrayaan-4 mission
An August 13 Rajya Sabha answer names the thrust chamber as the only SE2000 subsystem still unrealised, leaving full-power power-head and integrated-engine work ahead.
Launch
Kulasekarapattinam operator search opens as construction continues
The latest project reply puts spending at ₹588.70 crore of ₹985.96 crore, while IN-SPACe seeks a private manager and leaves the commissioning date unstated.
Navigation
Only three NavIC satellites currently broadcast navigation signals
A Rajya Sabha reply shows a four-satellite gap against NavIC’s seven-satellite design. NVS-03 is ready, but the government gave only a launch sequence—not launch dates—for rebuilding the base layer.
The 2047 dossier
From Gaganyaan to an Indian station in orbit
A mission-by-mission guide to the approved modules, return technologies and launch systems connecting today’s crew programme to Bharatiya Antariksh Station and a lunar landing.
Update this profile
Work at Department of Space or represent it? If something here is wrong or missing, email contact@spaceexploration.news with a public source for the change. Every profile edit is verified before it is published.
Request a profile change