ISRO will not be privatized, says Chairman Narayanan

Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, ISRO, Chairman, Space Commission, Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bangalore, presenting diploma to students on Graduation day at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education on 24 October 2026 | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is under the Indian government and will not be privatised, the agency’s chairman V Narayanan said on Saturday (Oct 24, 2026). However, some of its operations will be carried out by the private sector on a commercial basis, he noted.

The remarks come amid questions over whether the Union government intends to transfer the agency’s launch vehicle and satellite manufacturing to private firms.

“Our space program is 64 years old, we have as many as 56 satellites. But the demand is for thousands of satellites,” Mr. Narayanan said during a graduation ceremony at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur.

Highlighting India’s space policy, 2023, he said ISRO will support startups and private companies to work in the space sector. “The country’s space ecosystem and the country’s economy will grow, leading to job opportunities. When a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) or a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launches, 75% of our budget will be pumped into private industry. Private companies are also contributing. People must not misconstrue this because the chairman of ISRO will be privatized.”

He also noted that the upcoming launch of the NVS-03 navigation satellite scheduled for October 30 is proceeding as planned and that the launch vehicle was moved to the launch pad on Saturday (October 24).

Talking about the Gaganyaan mission, he said that the rocket is ready and the crew escape system on the rocket module has also been developed. “The environmental and safety system in space has been developed. We plan to send three unmanned rockets and we are working on the first rocket. We will test the first rocket soon, and then we will send two more unmanned rockets. If all of them are successful, we will send a manned rocket. So far, 8,000 experiments have been conducted on land.”

He said Chandrayaan-4, which will land on the moon and return with a sample, is planned for 2028.

Certificates distributed

A total of 455 students received their graduation certificates at the convocation ceremony. As many as 217 candidates from post-graduate courses and 238 from undergraduate courses received the certificate.

Published – 24 October 2026 22:00 IST