ISRO Chairman V Narayanan urges greater industry participation to expand India’s space sector

By R Anil Kumar

Bengaluru, Sep 7, 2026. The Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan has called for increased participation from Indian industry, startups and academia to expand the country’s space sector, noting that the growing demand for satellites and launches “cannot be done only by ISRO”.

Speaking at the 9th Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, Narayanan said India’s space programme is entering a new phase characterised by greater private-sector involvement, technological advancements, ambitious missions and international cooperation.

“Today we are having only 56 space assets serving from space. But the need is huge. At least 200 to 300 satellites have to be built and launched in maybe 6 to 7 years’ time frame. And this cannot be done only by ISRO,” he stated.

Narayanan outlined government reforms to enable private participation, highlighting the role of IN-SPACe in authorising private space activities and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) in supporting commercialisation.

He emphasised the contribution of Indian industry, saying around 80 per cent of the budget for a rocket launch is allocated to Indian firms. “Whenever a rocket lifts off — a PSLV, GSLV or LVM3 rocket — please understand, 80% of the budget goes to Indian industries. That means the success of the Indian space program is because of the partnership with Indian industries and academia,” he said.

Narayanan also noted the expansion of India’s startup ecosystem, with about 450 startups currently engaged in the space sector.

He added that India must significantly increase its launch frequency to meet its goals. “When I joined ISRO in 1984, we used to have a launch once in three years, then once in two years. Today we are launching once in a month. But the need is around 50 launches per year. So we all have to work together,” he said.

Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, highlighted the rapid growth of India’s private space sector, noting the rise from a single space startup in 2014 to over 450 today.

“From a single space startup in 2014, we now have over 450. This year alone, more than $160 million of private capital has already come in,” he said.

Goenka cited Skyroot Aerospace—India’s first privately built rocket developer achieving orbital launch capability—as an example of the evolving collaboration between private industry, ISRO and IN-SPACe.

“The partnership is India’s real strength. The depth of a national space agency built over six decades, now working hand in hand with a young and ambitious private industry. ISRO and industry are rising together,” he said.

He stated that India is building a full-spectrum space economy involving ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL, private companies, MSMEs, academia and investors.

Goenka urged Indian companies to progress up the value chain to serve global markets and called on international companies to consider India as a hub for manufacturing, technology development and space-sector partnerships.

The Bengaluru Space Expo convened government representatives, space agencies, international partners, industry leaders, startups and academia to discuss innovation, policy and growth in the global space sector.