What are the new guidelines set by IN-SPACe for Indian and foreign hosted payloads?

IN-SPACe directed that any hosted data content owned by an Indian entity that is hosted on an Indian or non-Indian satellite will require its authorization. Photo courtesy: www.inspace.gov.in/inspace

Story so far: On 17 September 2026, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) published a document titled Standards, Guidelines and Procedures for the Implementation of India’s Space Policy 2023 regarding authorization for establishment and operation of hosted payloads.

Why did IN-SPACE publish the document?

IN-SPACE, which is the one-stop agency for all activities of private entities in the country’s space sector, issued this document due to the growing number of private participants, which it refers to as Non-Governmental Indian Entities (NGEs). These NGEs have developed and deployed payloads for Earth observation, space science, communications, technology demonstration, and other space applications over the past several years. IN-SPACe says the guidelines will help Indian companies access space infrastructure through hosted payload opportunities while ensuring compliance with applicable technical, safety, security, spectrum, orbital and other regulatory requirements.

What are “hosted payloads”?

According to the document, these are instruments, systems and transponders that are located on satellites. These payloads may be privately owned, mounted on third-party satellites to utilize available capacity, or to utilize a Satellite-as-a-Service (SaaS) service provided by the satellite owner or operator.

Hosted payloads may be owned by Indian entities and hosted on non-Indian host space objects, Indian payloads or non-Indian entities located on Indian host space objects, or even payloads that are hosted on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) or similar platforms.

What does the document say?

IN-SPACe directed that any hosted data content owned by an Indian entity that is hosted on an Indian or non-Indian satellite will require its authorization. The nodal agency also states that it must submit an authorization request for one or more payloads that may be placed on a satellite or constellation of satellites. It also specifies that the applicant (Indian entities) must, at the time of application to IN-SPAC, provide information on the submission of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under which the host space object and hosted payload will operate.

What does the document say about non-Indian entities?

The document says that non-Indian entities are exempted from requiring permission from IN-SPACE to host their payloads on Indian space facilities.

Instead, IN-SPACe says it does not require authorization for payload owners not hosted in India, provided they comply with relevant laws and regulations. However, the host entity must provide all information about the hosted payload.

It further states that the objectives and operations of hosted payloads must comply with applicable international laws, treaties, agreements, guidelines and standards, including the Outer Space Treaty, the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention, along with other relevant international obligations.

What about national security?

With regard to national security, geopolitical considerations or harmful interference with other satellite networks, the directives specify that IN-SPACe may, in consultation with other departments and ministries, regulate the operation of the Hosted Payload(s) and the Host Entity shall, in such cases, cease transmission and operation of the Host Space Object, and possibly the Host Payload, without any delay.

The host entity will also be required to retain information relating to data relating to Indian territory captured by the hosted payload for a minimum period of six months and submit the information to IN-SPAC as and when requested.

The agency also reserves the right to order a host entity to shut down a hosted payload if it determines that the owner of the hosted payload is in violation of the data dissemination guidelines.

The owner will also indemnify the host entity and the Government of India against any third party liability claims arising from its hosted payload in accordance with the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972).

How many NGEs are registered in India?

According to information provided in Parliament in August by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, India’s start-up portal of the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has listed around 440 space technology start-ups registered in India. IN-SPACE granted 113 authorizations to 52 Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) to carry out various space activities, including 18 start-ups.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 18:58 IST