Brief Context
Context Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved the Space Industrial Policy, thereby following Karnataka and Gujarat in formulating a State-specific document. About Aim: To stimulate development and attract investments in the space sector. In 2023, the Union government came out with the Indian Space Policy 2023 to provide a framework to support the space ecosystem.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS3/Space
Context
- Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved the Space Industrial Policy, thereby following Karnataka and Gujarat in formulating a State-specific document.
About
- Aim: To stimulate development and attract investments in the space sector.
- In 2023, the Union government came out with the Indian Space Policy 2023 to provide a framework to support the space ecosystem.
- The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) had suggested to the State government to come out with a document.
- IN-SPACe is created by the Department of Space at the Centre for promoting, authorising and overseeing the activities of Non-Government Entities (NGEs) in the sector.
Key Highlights of the TN Policy
- Aim: Aimed at attracting ₹10,000 crore investments in the next five years and generation of direct and indirect employment for nearly 10,000 persons in the given period.
- The State government would provide a payroll subsidy for companies that are involved in R&D or that would establish global capability centres in the space sector.
- The government will also notify select regions as Space Bays for offering structured packages of incentives to firms that plan to do investments below ₹300 crore.
- Space industrial park developers will be eligible for an industrial housing incentive of 10% on the cost of developing residential facilities within the industrial park over 10 years, subject to a ceiling of ₹10 crore.
- Those undertaking green and sustainable initiatives will be eligible for a 25% subsidy on the cost of capital for such initiatives, subject to a ceiling of ₹5 crore.
The Indian Space Policy – 2023
- Vision: To enhance India’s space capabilities, enable a robust commercial presence, promote international cooperation, and leverage space technology for Socio-economic development, National security, Environmental protection and Scientific advancement.
- Applicability:
- Covers all space activities originating from or involving Indian territory or jurisdiction.
- Implementation will be governed by detailed directives issued by DoS.
- Strategy: Encourage full-spectrum private sector participation in the space economy (satellites, ground systems, services, etc.).
- Allow public and private users to procure space services freely.
- Role of Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs): NGEs are permitted to:
- Design, launch, and operate satellites and launch vehicles.
- Provide communication, remote sensing, navigation services.
- Build and operate ground stations.
- Develop space transportation, space situational awareness, and recovery systems.
- Conduct asteroid/space resource mining and commercialize it.
- Collaborate internationally and engage in human spaceflight.
- Must comply with IN-SPACe regulations.
Roles and responsibilities of Various Organizations Under the Policy:
- IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center): It is an autonomous single-window agency responsible for:
- Authorizing all government and private space activities.
- Issuing operational guidelines.
- Promoting industry clusters, incubation centers, and accelerators.
- Ensuring fair access to public infrastructure.
- Enabling NGE participation in space exploration.
- Handling safety, liability, and dispute resolution.
- Facilitating technology transfer from ISRO to private players.
- Approving remote sensing data dissemination and launch manifests.
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) refocused on:
- R&D in new space technologies, human spaceflight, and scientific exploration.
- Transitioning operational space systems to industry.
- Providing open access to remote sensing data.
- Supporting academia and industry collaboration.
- Enabling long-term human presence in space.
- NewSpace India Limited (NSIL): Acts as the commercial arm of the Department of Space:
- Commercializes space technologies developed by ISRO.
- Manufactures and procures space assets.
- Serves both government and private sector clients on commercial terms.
- Department of Space (DoS): Acts as the policy coordinator:
- Ensures smooth role distribution among stakeholders.
- Oversees implementation of the policy.
- Coordinates international cooperation and compliance.
- Ensures safe operations and resolves disputes.
- Maintains global standards and interoperability in navigation systems.
Significance
- It redefined ISRO’s role to focus on innovation and R&D.
- Empowering private industry with end-to-end operational rights.
- Establishing a transparent and structured regulatory regime.
- Aligning with international best practices and sustainability.
Source: TH