India has taken steps in quick succession to liberalise its
private space industry. In June 2020, the government approved the
setting up of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation
Centre (IN-SPACe) to facilitate private activity. These
steps signal definite changes in policy but there are reasons
to be cautious.
India has taken steps in quick succession to liberalise its
private space industry. In May, the Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman announced the opening up of the Indian Space Research
Organisation's facilities to the country's private sector
as part of its Covid-19 special economic stimulus. More recently,
the Indian Cabinet approved the setting up of the Indian National
Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre ('IN-SPACe') to
facilitate private sector participation "through encouraging
policies and a friendly regulatory environment". These are
early but laudable steps.
