'Private sector will be co-traveller in India's space journey' informs Union Minister Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, June 10: "The private sector will be allowed to use ISRO's facilities and assets and they will be provided a level-playing field in satellites, launches, and space-based services," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said days after the government announced opening up of the domain. He said future projects for planetary exploration will be open for the private sector.

 

"Private companies to be provided level playing field in satellites, launches, and Space-based services. Future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel will be open for the private sector," he said that during a briefing about country's achievement in the field of Space Technology during the first year of the second term of the PM Narendra Modi Government.

 

Singh said that the Modi Government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ roadmap towards self-relied India, as spelled out by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, envisages the initiative to boost private participation in space activities. Indian private sector will be a co-traveler in India's Space sector journey.

 

 

Informing about India's first-ever Human Space Mission ‘Gaganyaan’ to be undertaken by ISRO, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the selection of the astronauts was accomplished and their training in Russia had also started but got interrupted because of the Corona pandemic. He said the project would be followed up soon.

 

The Minister said, during the Corona pandemic, ISRO scientists have been engaged in search of the best methods to provide essential medical devices, protective kits, and other equipment.

 

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that last year ISRO launched a special program for young school children called ‘Young Scientists Programme - YUVIKA’. The program is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology and its applications to the younger generations, he said.

 

In a bid to boost private sector participation in space-related ventures, FM Nirmala Sitharaman last month announced that private firms and even start-ups will be allowed to use the assets of ISRO to improve capacities. "India already has the benefit of an extraordinary institution like ISRO, but now lots of private players are also coming in with innovative space technology. We will allow private players to benefit from Isro's assets and give them a level-playing field to boost India's space sector further," FM Sitharaman said.