On February 6, 2025, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Space, stated in the Rajya Sabha that space sector reforms have unlocked India’s commercial potential in space. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, has been instrumental in boosting industry participation in space-related activities.
Key Achievements of NSIL:
- Successfully launched GSAT-N1 (GSAT-24) in June 2022 for DTH services.
- Launched GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) in November 2024 for broadband services (currently in-orbit testing).
- Successfully launched 124 international and 3 Indian customer satellites using PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV.
- Operates 15 in-orbit communication satellites providing services for DTH, broadband, and TV.
- Disseminating Earth Observation satellite data globally since May 2023.
- Provided 11 launch vehicle tracking supports and 9 early orbit phase (LEOP) & TTC supports for Indian and international customers.
- Signed 75 Technology Transfer Agreements to transfer ISRO-developed technologies to Indian industries.
- NSIL is a profit-making company with increasing revenues since its inception in 2019.
Upcoming Missions:
- GSAT-N3 (Q1 2026): To meet India’s S-Band communication needs.
- First fully industry-made PSLV (Q2 2025): Produced by HAL-L&T consortium.
Dr. Singh emphasized that India aims to expand its commercial space business, including satellite and rocket manufacturing, launch services, and space-based applications. The space sector reforms since June 2020 have enabled NSIL to operate under a demand-driven model, strengthening India’s presence in the global space market.
