New Delhi, February 11: India’s space sector is rapidly advancing. The government reported on Wednesday in Parliament that there are now over 400 space startups operating in the country, with investments exceeding $500 million.
Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, stated in a written response in the Lok Sabha that two private companies successfully launched and tested their rockets to sub-orbital space in November 2022 and May 2024.
He mentioned that 25 payloads have been sent or are set to be sent via the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM). This platform allows private companies to test their equipment in space. Additionally, six Indian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have collaboratively launched 18 satellites into space.
The minister further explained that a group of Earth observation satellites is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which will promote new experiments and enhance trust in Indian space companies globally.
He added that 25 companies are already utilizing platforms like POEM to test their satellites and equipment in space. Several state governments also view the space sector as an emerging field and are creating new policies and incentive schemes to support companies.
Since the announcement of the ‘Startup India’ initiative on January 16, 2016, the number of startups in the space sector has surged. This initiative aims to foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and increase employment opportunities in the country.
Since 2014, several prominent space startups have emerged, such as Pixel, Dhruva Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, and Bellatrix Aerospace. Bengaluru-based Pixel has launched its first commercial satellites named ‘Firefly,’ which have advanced imaging capabilities.
Similarly, Galaxy’s ‘Mission Drishti’ is set to launch soon, which will be the world’s first multi-sensor Earth observation satellite. This will help India strengthen its space monitoring capabilities.
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