Indian Space Policy 2023 and the FDI liberalisation of 2024 have created the conditions for a private space industry. Examine the role of IN-SPACe and NSIL and the legislative gaps in space liability and IP.

Introduction:

The Indian Space Policy 2023 was notified on 20 April 2023 by the Department of Space; FDI policy was liberalised on 21 February 2024 — up to 100% under the automatic route for satellites, 74% for manufacturing, and 49% for launch vehicles. The space economy now hosts ~190 startups (DPIIT 2025), with private investments accelerating sharply.

Institutional roles:

IN-SPACe acts as a single-window authoriser (300+ authorisations by 2025) and demand-aggregator. NSIL is the commercial arm — leading LVM3-OneWeb missions. ISRO refocuses on R&D, frontier missions, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station targeted for 2035. The Department of Space budget for 2025-26 is ₹13,416 crore, anchoring the public-private balance.

Private milestones:

Skyroot's Vikram-S (18 November 2022) was India's first private suborbital launch; Agnikul's Agnibaan SOrTeD (30 May 2024) demonstrated a single-piece 3D-printed engine. Pixxel, Dhruva Space, Bellatrix, and Digantara cover hyperspectral imaging, small satellites, propulsion, and space-situational awareness — together signalling a vertical ecosystem.

Legislative gaps:

India has no Space Activities Act. The Outer Space Treaty 1967 and Liability Convention 1972 are unincorporated in domestic statute, leaving liability allocation, insurance, and indemnity ambiguous. IP allocation between IN-SPACe authorisations and private innovators is unclear, as the ANTRIX-Devas arbitration history shows.

Way forward / Conclusion:

Pass the Space Activities Bill 2025, codify a liability and insurance regime aligned with international conventions, create a dedicated space-IP framework, and structure procurement from private launch providers under DoS by 2027.