India's Space Sector Thrives: Over 100 Authorizations Granted to Startups

Significant Growth in India's Space Industry

New Delhi: The Indian space sector is witnessing remarkable growth, with the space regulator IN-SPACe issuing 113 authorizations to 52 non-governmental entities (NGEs), including 18 startups, for various space-related activities since the sector's privatization, Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Wednesday.

In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Singh noted that approximately 440 space technology startups are currently registered in India, as per the Start-up India portal managed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

The minister highlighted that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, has collaborated with IN-SPACe to transfer various technologies developed by the ISRO Department of Space to private companies.

To date, NSIL has executed 118 Technology Transfer Agreements, facilitating the transfer of 83 technologies to the Indian industry, Singh added.

Among the technologies transferred are the small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) technology and the Indian Mini Satellite-1 (IMS-1) bus.

NSIL has been instrumental in providing support to Indian startups in the space domain, assisting them in effectively integrating and commercializing the transferred technologies, Singh stated.

Additionally, the government has launched several investment support initiatives for space startups, including the IN-SPACe seed fund scheme, the technology adoption fund (TAF), and a substantial Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund.

As of March 31, 2026, cumulative investments in Indian space startups have reached around USD 618.5 million, with the investment landscape evolving from early-stage seed funding to larger growth-stage investment rounds, according to the minister.