By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan on Thursday, November 6, 2025 said India’s space programme has reached a stage where nearly 85 per cent of all systems used in ISRO missions are now delivered by Indian industries, MSMEs, and startups, reflecting the country’s transformation from dependence to self-reliance in advanced space technology.
Addressing over 500 senior delegates at the 7th edition of India Manufacturing Show, and nearly 20,000 business professionals at the India Manufacturing Show (IMS) 2025 in Bengaluru, Narayanan said India’s industry and startup ecosystem has become the backbone of the nation’s space achievements.
“Almost 80 to 85 per cent of the systems in every ISRO mission are supplied by Indian industry. That shows the scale of their contribution. The strength of our space programme is not only in science and engineering but in the power of Indian manufacturing,” he said.
He cited the recent successful launch of the CMS-03 communication satellite on November 2 aboard India’s heaviest rocket, LVM3-M5 (Bahubali), as a symbol of this success. “While this mission was led by ISRO, almost 85 per cent of its systems were built by Indian industries,” he said.
Narayanan recalled India’s humble beginnings in space exploration. “Our first rocket was launched on November 21, 1963, using parts received from the United States. Back then, we were 70 years behind advanced countries. We carried rocket parts on bicycles and even transported our first experimental satellite on a bullock cart. From that era, we now launch satellites to the Moon and Mars,” he said.
The ISRO Chairman highlighted several major milestones in India’s space journey — including the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched in July 2025. “NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory invested ₹10,300 crore to build its radar payload, while India built a similar advanced payload entirely through its own industries and launched it on an Indian rocket,” he said, adding that again, 80 per cent of the contribution came from Indian industries.
Narayanan said ISRO currently partners with over 450 Indian companies, which have become an integral part of the space value chain. “In 2020, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government announced space sector reforms. At that time, there were just three or four space startups. Today, India has more than 330 active startups working in the sector,” he said.
He said ISRO has also handed over production of five PSLV rockets to a consortium led by HAL and L&T, with the first expected to be launched by February 2026. “Once the first launch succeeds, we plan for 50 per cent of PSLV production to be taken up directly by Indian industry,” he said.
In addition, ISRO has transferred the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to HAL through a ₹511 crore agreement, with plans to shift production of 16 SSLVs to private industries.
Recalling key achievements, Narayanan said India’s soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023, was a defining moment for global space science. “India became the first country to achieve a successful landing near the lunar South Pole,” he said.
He also described the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) as a “marvel of precision,” adding, “The spacecraft travelled 600 million kilometres, and its engine restarted flawlessly after 295 days — a feat no other nation has achieved in its first attempt.”
Narayanan also underlined India’s technological self-sufficiency in cryogenic engine technology, which was denied to India in the early 1990s. “Today, we have developed three indigenous cryogenic propulsion systems. A country that once carried rocket parts on bicycles now builds world-class engines,” he said.
Marking another milestone, Narayanan said ISRO completed its 100th rocket launch on January 29, 2024, calling it “a golden chapter in India’s space history.” He also mentioned the recent development of a 32-bit indigenous computer processor, jointly built by HCL and ISRO, as a major step in achieving electronics independence.
India currently operates 56 satellites serving communication, navigation, and Earth observation needs. “In the next four years, we aim to increase this number three to four times. The Prime Minister has also set a goal to raise the number of annual launches from the current 10–12 to around 50 within five years,” he said.
Narayanan said these goals are achievable only through continued partnership with Indian industries. “IMS 2025 is not just an event; it is a launchpad for India’s manufacturing resilience and innovation. Without strong manufacturing, rockets and satellites would remain on paper — they would never fly,” he remarked.
He praised the contribution of industrial leaders such as Baba Kalyani and the L&T team, and lauded all MSMEs and startups for their commitment. “When India celebrates its 100th year of Independence, it will do so as a developed nation. By 2040, India’s space programme will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s most advanced space powers — in launches, satellites, and applications,” he said.
Concluding his address, Narayanan said, “The entire world is looking towards India today. Behind ISRO’s every success is the strength of our industries, our MSMEs, and our startups. Together, we will take India to new frontiers.”
