India's Global Competitiveness in Space: Budget and Achievements
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
The Department of Space presented a parliamentary reply detailing the budget allocation for space from 2021-22 to 2026-27 and assessed India's global standing in space capabilities. This comes amid growing global competition in space and India's push for commercial space reforms.
Background
India's space program, led by ISRO, has evolved from satellite launches to deep space exploration and human spaceflight. Recent reforms opened the sector to private participation through IN-SPACe and NSIL.
Key facts
Budget for Dept of Space in 2025-26 is ₹13,416.20 crore, 0.26% of central budget and 0.03% of GDP.
Budget allocation has declined from 0.40% of central budget in 2021-22 to 0.26% in 2025-26.
Space Technology accounts for the largest expenditure (₹10,397.06 crore BE 2026-27), followed by Space Applications and Space Science.
India achieved 100 launches from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
India became the first country to soft-land near the Moon's south pole (Chandrayaan-3) and third to place a solar observatory at Sun-Earth L1 point (Aditya-L1).
India is the fourth country to demonstrate autonomous docking in space (SPADEX mission).
ISRO is developing reusable launch vehicles (RLV), semi-cryogenic propulsion, next-gen launch vehicles (NGLV), and LOX-Methane propulsion.
Gaganyaan programme aims to make India a human spaceflight nation, with future Indian Space Station under Space Vision 2047.
Commercial launches include heaviest satellite to GTO (CMS-03) and heaviest commercial satellite for a US client.
Reforms through IN-SPACe and NSIL have opened the space sector to private participation.
Prelims pointers
- Department of Space budget 2025-26: ₹13,416.20 crore
- ISRO's 100th launch from SDSC SHAR
- Chandrayaan-3: first soft-landing near Moon's south pole
- Aditya-L1: solar observatory at Sun-Earth L1 point
- SPADEX: autonomous docking demonstration
- Gaganyaan: human spaceflight programme
- Space Vision 2047: Indian Space Station
- IN-SPACe and NSIL: space sector reforms
- NISAR: NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission
- RLV, NGLV, semi-cryogenic propulsion
Mains angles
- Discuss the budgetary trends of India's space program and their implications for global competitiveness.
- Critically examine the role of space sector reforms in enhancing India's commercial launch services.
- Analyze India's achievements in space exploration (Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, SPADEX) and their significance for scientific and strategic goals.
- Evaluate the challenges and opportunities in India's human spaceflight and deep space exploration plans.