India, even as an emerging space super-power, has no private players in the sector. SpaceX is one of the well-known private space agencies of the world and registered formidable success. To enable such space enterprises in India, The government is working on a strategy for the country to inculcate the private sector interest in the space arena. In this regard, the Modi government is expected to table the ‘Space Activities Bill’ in the upcoming Winter session of parliament.
The said bill was also pending before the parliament in 2017, however, the government allowed for suggestions and queries to be addressed to it in this regard, therefore delaying the bill. The draft of the bill was first posted on ISRO’s website, for suggestions by the public, specifically by the stakeholders. The bill aims to open up the space arena for all Indian citizens and sectors, a non-transferable licence, issued by the central government for carrying out space activities will be mandatory. However, the government will also have the right to develop more space activity plans for the country, and to outsource these to the private sector.
Moreover, the government would also provide technical and professional support for commercial space activity and it would act as a regulatory body to ensure smooth conduct of any space mission. It is noteworthy that the government does not plan to set up an autonomous regulatory body for the private sector. It has taken that role for itself. The government also will oversee all security procedures and in cases of accidents during the conduct of operations, will have the right to investigate as well.
It is certain that the government, for now at least, is keeping all necessary powers with itself. The stakeholders and private sector enthusiasts might criticize the government for making the process too stringent; however any dilution in the bill as of now could potentially have international repercussions.
Being the initial stage, every step is being taken with caution, and in compliance with various UN regulations, such as the ‘Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies’, the ‘Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects’, and the ‘Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space’. It is expected that the government will steadily allow greater private sector autonomy, as governments being the absolute power centre is never fruitful and tends to inhibit growth in the sector. This move will open the door for private investments in India’s space programme.
ISRO has been repeatedly making the country proud, and leaving the world community awestruck with the sheer efficacy with which missions are completed by the agency. ISRO is reputed across the globe for having successfully executed various missions, particularly Mangalyaan, and the recent Chandrayaan-2 in a limited budget. It once launched a record 104 satellites from a single rocket. These satellites were from various countries like US, UK and Germany. ISRO provided South Asia with its biggest communication system, using the GSLV-FO9. The recent Chandrayaan-2 was so exciting that the world watched with rapt attention the landing of Vikram rover on the moon surface, which unfortunately could not succeed in soft-landing.
The bill, if turned into an Act of Parliament in the next session of parliament, would mean a revolution of India’s space programme. Private sector companies would predictably be much more cost-effective and speedy with their operation, not that the ISRO already isn’t. However, when one has more players in the sector, it gives boost to healthy competition and can also help India focus on various operations simultaneously and not be stagnated with one mission for a prolonged period of time. It can also give rise to India’s very own SpaceX! How Elon Musk has disrupted the US space sector is no secret. It is only a matter of time before India dominates the space with its cutting edge technology, and also space defence mechanisms.