Wednesday 24 / June / 2026
India has announced plans to transfer technology related to its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the country's most dependable launch vehicle, to the private sector as part of efforts to accelerate the growth of its domestic space industry.
Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), said the government has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting private companies to acquire PSLV technology. Eligibility will be limited to companies that are majority-owned and controlled by Indian entities.
The initiative aims to strengthen India's launch capabilities and support its ambition of becoming a global hub for small satellite launches. Since the government opened the space sector to private participation in 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the industry has witnessed rapid growth, with hundreds of startups entering the market. Major corporate players have also shown interest, including Jio Platforms Ltd., which has announced plans to develop a satellite constellation.
Despite the PSLV's strong reputation, the rocket has experienced challenges in recent years, with two consecutive missions reportedly failing over the past year. However, Goenka expressed confidence in the vehicle's long-term reliability, noting that the PSLV previously completed more than 60 successful launches without a failure.
He added that several large Indian industrial groups have shown interest in opportunities within the country's expanding space sector, although he did not identify any specific companies.
