Bengaluru, August 12, 2025: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), under the Department of Space, Government of India, today announced the selection of a PixxelSpace India-led consortium, comprising of Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space, to design, build, and operate India’s first fully indigenous commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite under the pioneering Public-Private Partnership (EO-PPP) model. 

The selection follows a competitive bidding process. Three consortia were shortlisted after rigorous technical evaluation:

• Astra Microwave Products Limited, Hyderabad (with Bharat Electronics Ltd., Sisir Radar & Spectragaze Systems)
• GalaxEye Space, Bengaluru (with CoreEL)
• PixxelSpace India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru (with Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space)

Following the financial bid assessment, the PixxelSpace India-led consortium emerged as the successful bidder.

This initiative represents a pivotal point for India’s space sector. For the first time in the history of the Indian space sector, a private consortium would invest more than ₹1,200 crore over the next 5 years to launch a constellation of 12 state-of-the-art EO satellites equipped with panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave SAR sensors. The constellation will deliver Analysis Ready Data (ARD) and Value-Added Services (VAS) for applications in climate change monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure, marine surveillance, national security, and urban planning, while also catering to the global demand for high-quality geospatial intelligence.

By generating high-resolution, indigenous satellite data, the initiative will significantly reduce India’s reliance on foreign sources, ensure data sovereignty, and position the country among the global leader, in space-based data solutions.

Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, said, “This initiative signals the coming of age of India’s private space industry in the space sector. It demonstrates the capability and confidence of Indian companies to lead large-scale, technologically advanced, and commercially viable space missions that serve both national and global markets. The EO-PPP model fosters an ecosystem where public and private capabilities reinforce each other to drive growth, innovation, and self-reliance.”

Under the PPP framework, the Government of India will provide strategic, technical, and policy support, while the PixxelSpace India-led consortium will own and operate the EO system, including satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure, and commercialization of data services.

Shri Rajeev Jyoti, Director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe, said: “All three shortlisted bidders submitted excellent technical and business plans, underscoring the growing maturity of India’s private space capabilities. This project is about building India’s own independent and future-ready geospatial infrastructure. It will lead to Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in high-resolution optical and radar data for India, catalyse innovation, create thousands of high-skill jobs, and contribute directly to our goal of growing India’s space economy from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033.”

Awais Ahmed, CEO of Pixxel said: “Being the winning proposal to build India’s national EO constellation is a major milestone for Pixxel and our consortium members in India’s space story. We’re grateful to IN-SPACe and the Government of India for trusting our consortium with this historic mission. Together with our partners Satsure, Dhruva and PierSight, we look forward to building world-class space-tech capabilities that serve the whole planet from Indian soil. This is India’s moment to lead the world in space-powered solutions.”

The EO constellation will be deployed in a phased manner over the next four years to ensure continuous service upgrades and expanded coverage. Once operational, it will be among the most advanced EO systems in the world, designed, built, and operated entirely in India by Indian talent.

This initiative reaffirms the Government of India’s commitment to space sector reforms and to enabling Indian industry to emerge as a major global player in the space economy.

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The course was inaugurated at Amity University, with former Member of Parliament Shri Rajendra Agarwal gracing the occasion as Chief Guest. Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate at IN-SPACe, was present for the opening and spoke about the relevance of such academic-industry collaborations in creating awareness around satellite-based tools for modern agriculture. He noted that the program is designed to provide participants with a foundational understanding of how space-based applications can support farming.

In his keynote address, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, stated, “Space applications have a growing role to play in strengthening India’s agricultural capabilities and resilience. With the help of these applications and geospatial data, farmers can monitor crop health, optimize the use of fertilizers and irrigation, detect pest infestations early, manage fields with precision using GPS-guided machinery, better respond to weather risks and natural disasters, and improve overall farm productivity and decision-making. Through these academic collaborations, we aim to build awareness, share technical know-how, and create a pool of professionals who can apply space-based tools to real-world challenges. These courses are designed to bridge knowledge gaps and encourage deeper engagement from academia and young professionals in space applications across critical sectors.”

The course is part of IN-SPACe’s broader mission to support capacity-building and sector-wide participation, expanding the role of space applications in everyday economic activity. The week-long course, running from July 27 to August 1, 2025, will cover topics ranging from remote sensing and satellite data analysis to their direct application in crop monitoring and resource management.

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Bengaluru, May 7, 2025: In a strategic development, the Indian  National  Space  Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), and the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, have signed MoUs to accelerate the state’s rise as India’s foremost commercial-space launch-pad. The MoUs signed include one for establishing a Centre of Excellence for Space Technologies in Bengaluru and the other for setting up of a public-private space manufacturing park that will anchor next-generation satellite and launch-vehicle production.

The MoUs were signed by Dr Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary to Government (Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science &Technology), Government of Karnataka; and Mr Lochan Sehra, IAS, Joint Secretary, IN-SPACe, in the presence of Dr Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe. The MoUs will establish the framework for Government of Karnataka and IN-SPACe to collaborate and partner for the setting up of the Centre of Excellence for Space Technologies and the Space Manufacturing Park.

Karnataka has a mature ecosystem across the space sector value chain comprising of Government, private and MSME players, including ISRO headquarters, space related public sector undertakings such as DRDO labs and facilities, HAL, BEL, BHEL, NAL, and academic and research institutions. The MoUs will enable and support the state’s NewSpace ecosystem towards the national vision as per the Indian Space Policy, 2023 and promote innovation in the sector.

IN-SPACe, on the other hand, has been spearheading India’s space ambitions by enabling ease of doing business with the active participation of government as well as non-governmental entities. As the global space ambitions soar high, IN-SPACe is acting as a nodal agency to shape India’s growing space economy. This signing of MoUs with the Karnataka government aligns with the goal to give impetus to regional ambitions that club with the holistic national projections.

Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, said, “The MoUs with IN-SPACe mark a new chapter in Karnataka’s space journey creating a seamless talent and value chain with the regulatory support required to compete globally.”

Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said, “State of Karnataka has emerged as a hub for new age space start-ups and enterprises. The MoUs will bolster this ecosystem and support the state and country’s efforts in succeeding in the NewSpace era. We look forward to working shoulder-to-shoulder with the state to see more satellites, engines and deep-space technologies developed and manufactured in the state.”

As the global space sector moves from agency-driven programmes to agile public-private partnerships, today’s signing cements Karnataka’s role as India’s launch-pad for breakthrough NewSpace technologies propelled by government vision, private ingenuity and an unrivalled talent pool. IN-SPACe, being the regulator of space in India, is driving core R&D and innovation to propel India’s growth. This MoU is another in line of IN-SPACe’s long-term vision to make India a space-forward economy, with the active participation of the states.

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The TAF has been created to promote the development of space technology within India while reducing the nation’s dependence on imported solutions. Investing in domestic research and development, the TAF will help building a strong partnership between government bodies and the private sector and position India as a reliable global partner in the space industry.

“The fund will offer financial support of up to 60% of the project cost for startups and MSMEs, and 40% for larger industries, with a maximum funding cap of ₹25 Crores per project,” said Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe. “We have designed this fund to help innovators bridge the gap between early-stage development and commercialization. This support will enable companies to refine their technologies, enhance production processes, and meet market demands both within India and abroad. Our focus is on enabling practical solutions that can be quickly integrated into the space ecosystem”, he added. 

With TAF, IN-SPACe aims to support a wide range of outcomes—from the development of new space products to the creation of intellectual property that can drive future research and development. The fund will help promote advanced space technologies and contribute to job creation along with economic growth. By funding projects that have the potential to become commercial successes, IN-SPACE is taking concrete steps toward strengthening India’s position in the global space sector.

The Technology Adoption Fund is open to all eligible NGEs/companies that are ready to demonstrate the commercial potential of their innovations. Interested parties are encouraged to register on the IN-SPACe Digital Platform (IDP) at www.inspace.gov.in/taf to review the Guidelines Document and to submit their applications in the prescribed format.

In addition to financial support, the initiative will provide technical guidance and mentoring opportunities, which will help companies navigate challenges during the product development phase. This comprehensive support framework is intended to ensure that innovative ideas are not only protected and refined but also brought to market efficiently.

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POEM, an innovative platform that repurposes the fourth stage of the PSLV into an orbital experiment module after the primary mission. It conducts scientific and technological experiments in orbit. Equipped with essential capabilities like power supply, telemetry, and command support, POEM enables seamless operations for on board experiments. By leveraging existing infrastructure, it offers a cost-effective and rapid development approach for diverse research pursuits.

Commenting on the POEM deployment Dr Pawan Goenka- Chairman IN-SPACe said, “The PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) is a practical solution deployed by ISRO that allows Indian start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations to test their space technologies without the need to launch entire satellites. By making this platform accessible, we are reducing entry barriers and enabling a wider range of entities to contribute to the space sector. At IN-SPACe, our role is to create opportunities for such collaborations and ensure that India’s private sector can grow alongside advancements in space technology. Missions like these will be instrumental in capacity building by enabling NGEs to get their payloads space qualified, thus augmenting their future satellite launch missions.”

The POEM-4 mission marked a significant milestone with the deployment of 24 non-separable payloads, supporting a wide array of scientific and technological endeavours. Of these, 10 payloads from 10 NGEs were selected based on recommendations from the Standing, Selection, and Advisory Committee as given below:

The Technical centre of IN-SPACe in Ahmedabad provided critical support for this mission by enabling several payloads to undergo rigorous environmental testing, ensuring they met all mission requirements.

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Bengaluru, July 31, 2024

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN‑SPACe) today released an Announcement of Opportunity for making available Indian Orbital Resources to the Non-Government Entities (AO). Through this AO, Indian ITU Filing at 89E, which is in coordination stage, will be made available to one selected applicant.

Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said, “This Announcement of Opportunity is a game-changing opportunity for NGEs to participate in the global space economy and establish a world-class communication satellite system. This initiative underscores the Government of India’s commitment to empower talented Indian NGEs with the resources and support they need to succeed and contribute to India’s journey to leadership in the global space economy.”

This AO aims to identify an applicant with Indian management & control and having the requisite technical and financial capabilities to own, establish and operate a GSO satellite at 89E for providing communication services.

The last date for submission of the application is September 15, 2024. The AO document can be viewed and downloaded from IN-SPACe digital platform (www.inspace.gov.in) for making the application to IN-SPACe

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With this authorization, Azista BST Aerospace Pvt Ltd will support its own satellites and provide Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) operations and data reception from remote sensing satellites to both Indian and international customers. This authorization exemplifies the IN-SPACe’s ongoing efforts to encourage and enable Indian satellite operators

Ground stations operating in the UHF frequency band (300 MHz to 3 GHz) are primarily used for satellite communications, including data relay for remote sensing, telemetry, and control of satellites. They support various applications such as weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and communications for scientific research and military operations.

Speaking on the authorization, Dr. P K Jain, Director- Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD), IN-SPACe, commented, “This authorization is yet another step by the Government to encourage and enable Indian satellite operators who will now have alternative Indian ground station service providers for their satellite operations and data reception in the UHF band.”

Azista Industries Pvt Ltd aims at harnessing business opportunities in large volume small satellite requirements in the international market as well as emerging India needs and applications.

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The 21-month program will guide aspiring entrepreneurs through a comprehensive journey divided into distinct phases of ideation, innovation, and prototype development. The program will ensure that budding entrepreneurs receive structured support at each critical stage of development.

Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “India’s space sector is poised for exponential growth, and young entrepreneurs are crucial to driving this expansion. The PIE program will provide them with a launchpad, equipping them not only with technical expertise but also with the business acumen needed to navigate the complexities of the space industry. The early-stage support will help to unlock the potential of innovative minds and contribute to India’s leadership in the global space industry.”

The PIE Development Program will help young entrepreneurs transform their innovative ideas into prototypes by fostering a collaborative learning environment giving participants an opportunity to connect with and learn from seasoned mentors, handpicked from leading research institutions, incubators, academia, and prominent space industry players. This direct access to industry veterans and subject matter experts will provide invaluable insights, feedback, and networking opportunities. It will inculcate a culture of innovation in entrepreneurs, propelling scientific advancements that generate socio-economic benefits, contribute to broader economic development and create new job opportunities in India’s space sector.

As per guidelines of the program, applicants must be Indian citizens graduating in 2024 or already graduates, they should not have received any grants, funding, or monetary support from private or government schemes and all submissions must be original work to qualify for this program. Start-ups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on or after July 1, 2022, are classified as early-stage start-ups.

This program will target students in technical courses or those with a strong interest in space technology, expected to graduate in 2024, or pursuing Master’s or Doctorate programs and early-stage start-ups focusing on space technologies and aiming to develop entrepreneurial ventures.

IN-SPACe invites aspiring space entrepreneurs and early-stage start-ups to apply for the PIE Development Program. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative journey, gaining access to unparalleled resources, mentorship, and a platform to showcase their innovations.

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India is among a handful of countries with advanced capabilities in the space sector. With these reforms, the sector will receive new energy and dynamism, to help the country leapfrog to the next stages of space activities.

This will not only result in an accelerated growth of this sector but will enable Indian Industry to be an important player in global space economy. With this, there is an opportunity for large-scale employment in the technology sector and India becoming a Global technology powerhouse.

Key Benefits:
Space sector can play a major catalytic role in the technological advancement and expansion of our Industrial base. The proposed reforms will enhance the socio-economic use of space assets and activities, including through improved access to space assets, data and facilities.

The newly created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) will provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.

The Public Sector Enterprise ‘New Space India Limited (NSIL)’ will endeavour to re-orient space activities from a ‘supply driven’ model to a ‘demand driven’ model, thereby ensuring optimum utilization of our space assets.

These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on research and development activities, new technologies, exploration missions and human spaceflight programme. Some of the planetary exploration missions will also be opened up to private sector through an ‘announcement of opportunity’ mechanism.

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