Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was approved by the Union cabinet in June 2020. The Hon'ble Prime Minister formally inaugurated the headquarters IN-SPACe at Bopal, Ahmedabad on 10 June '22.
Speaking at the grand inaugural function, the Prime Minister said “IN-SPACe will provide excellent opportunities for all, especially for the youth of India with the best scientific minds to showcase their talent. The nodal bodyshall remove all the hurdles that stop Indian youth from progressing in their path. The sky is not the limit for the private space sector which will not just be the vendors but big winners. IN-SPACe has the potential to revolutionize the space sector in India with space exploration, tourism and space diplomacy playing key roles."
IN-SPACe will oversee utilization of Govt owned facilities of the Department of Space by the private Space industry and ensure greater private industry participation in the sector, including educational and research institutions The body will also seek newer avenues of involvement between ISRO and the private sector. Existing ISRO infrastructure will be made accessible to the space industry to enable them to test their space-related activities.
IN-SPACe's key function is to prioritize the launch manifest and ensure greater private participation in the sector. Created to be a single-window approval body, IN-SPACe, is a part of path-breaking reforms to boost private participation in the space sector and make space-based applications and services widely accessible to everyone. The body will be a facilitator and regulator and also be an interface between ISRO and private Space industry to promote efficient utilization of India’s space resources and increase space-based activities.
One of the key advantages of such a body is that NGPEs [Non-Govt private entities] will not be required to seek separate permission from ISRO since it will facilitate sharing of technology and expertise to NGPEs in space activities in order to carry out the capital-intensive space activities seamlessly.
The industry is upbeat at the creation of IN-SPACe and expects this to be a vital link between the ISRO and the private industry which will help smoothen business processes in the space ecosystem.
Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President SIA-India lauded the inauguration of IN-SPACe and said: "This is a very significant day for the Indian Space Sector as the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates the HQ of IN-SPACe, a nodal agency to regulate, hand-hold and promote participation of private space sector in end-to-end space activities. PM Modi sets forth the importance of IN-SPACe primed to play an anchoring role in transforming the space sector in India expected to capture a larger share of the global space economy and ensure greater private participation in the sector."
Mr. Anil Prakash, DG SIA-India said: "It is a happy day for the Space sector in India, and SIA-India shares optimism of the industry during the inauguration of IN-SPACe Headquarters at Bhopal, Ahmedabad by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on June 10, 2022. SIA-India looks forward to working with IN-SPACe, NSIL and ISRO to help the industry realise its true potential. IN-SPACe will be the key to addressing the needs and demands of the private space industry, start-ups, and the educational and research institutions, and explore ways to promote India as an attractive destination for partnership and collaboration with global space companies".
