New Delhi: The Indian government has tightened the rules for approving resignations of scientists working on critical space missions after reports of a growing number of departures from the Indian Space Research Organisation, raising concerns about the future of flagship projects such as Gaganyaan.
According to reports from several leading Indian media organisations, more than 100 scientists have resigned from ISRO in recent months. Many of them were working at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, two of the country's most important space research facilities. While the exact number of resignations has not been officially confirmed by ISRO, the reports have prompted the Department of Space to introduce stricter controls over the resignation process.
Under the new policy, directors of ISRO centres will no longer have the authority to independently approve resignations or voluntary retirement requests from Group A scientific and technical officers involved in important national missions. Instead, such requests must now be forwarded to the Department of Space for approval at the central level. The move is aimed at ensuring that experienced scientists working on strategic projects are not lost without careful consideration.
The government is particularly concerned because several of India's major space programmes depend on highly skilled scientists with years of specialised experience. Among the projects expected to be affected are the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, future launch vehicle programmes, advanced satellite missions and other strategic initiatives that are considered important for the country's scientific and technological progress.
Reports indicate that around 80 scientists have resigned from the U R Rao Satellite Centre, while about 20 have left the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Some additional resignation requests are also said to be awaiting approval. However, ISRO has not officially released a detailed list of those who have resigned or confirmed the exact figures reported by the media.
Several prominent scientists have reportedly been among those leaving the organisation. Media reports have named senior officials associated with major missions, including the project director of the LVM3 launch vehicle, the project director of the SpaDeX mission and a senior scientist who led simulation work for the Chandrayaan 3 mission. These names have appeared in media reports but have not been formally confirmed by ISRO.
Although no official explanation has been given for the increase in resignations, industry experts believe the rapid growth of India's private space sector is one of the main reasons. Since the government opened the space sector to private participation, many aerospace companies and space technology startups have been expanding their operations and recruiting experienced ISRO scientists. These companies often offer higher salaries, greater flexibility and faster career growth than government service.
India's private space ecosystem has grown rapidly in recent years with several companies entering areas such as satellite manufacturing, launch services, space technology and earth observation. The demand for experienced professionals has increased sharply, making former ISRO scientists highly sought after by the private industry.
The reported rise in resignations has also renewed discussion about retaining skilled scientific talent within government organisations. Many experts believe that while private sector growth is a positive sign for India's space industry, it also highlights the need to improve career opportunities, research support and incentives for scientists working in public institutions.
Despite the concerns, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has expressed confidence that the organisation remains capable of delivering its ongoing missions. According to media reports, he has said that the space agency has a strong workforce and that the departure of some scientists will not stop important national programmes from moving forward.
India's space programme has achieved several major milestones in recent years, including the successful Chandrayaan 3 Moon landing, the Aditya L1 solar mission and continued commercial satellite launches. The Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space aboard an indigenous spacecraft, remains one of the country's most ambitious scientific projects.
The government's latest decision reflects its determination to protect the expertise needed for these complex missions while balancing the growing opportunities created by India's expanding private space industry. As the country prepares for the next phase of its space ambitions, retaining experienced scientists is expected to remain a key priority.