India in the Second Space Age: Takeaways from India’s Space Policy 2023
Executive Summary
ISRO released the Space Policy 2023 subsequent to the reforms of June 2020 as a single comprehensive strategy for all space-related activities and actors.
ISRO released the Space Policy 2023 subsequent to the reforms of June 2020 as a single comprehensive strategy for all activities and actors space-related.
The document highlights the vision, strategy and two broader objectives for the Indian space sector i.e., more public-private sector collaboration and demarcation of roles and responsibilities.
The document makes no mention of enhancing space security capabilities which is likely to be covered in subsequent releases or in a different policy document.
This policy document is the first that is made available in the public domain and is seen as the strategy for India’s enhanced role in the space economy or Space 2.0.
Keywords: Space Policy 2023, Space 2.0, ASAT, Space Security.
Introduction
Indian space activities up until now were largely undertaken by the government with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) being the primary government agency responsible for all space missions. However, as outer space gained prominence in the discourse with terms like space economy and counter-space capabilities, discussions around the expansion of space activities involving multiple stakeholders, participation in the space economy, and a nationally integrated space strategy became prominent.
While India established itself as a significant space-faring nation with credible launch capabilities and satellite constellations, much-needed reforms were brought in only in June 2020 which allowed the participation of private actors in this sector. Subsequent to the 2020 reforms, this policy document provides a strategy and a regulatory framework for all stakeholders involved. This shift in India’s policy is influenced by an increased number of stakeholders, satellite services for consumers, a growing space economy and more strategic competition. In this regard, the policy highlights the vision, strategy and broader objectives for the Indian space sector.
Vision and Strategy
ISRO released its Space Policy 2023 in April which is to be overseen by the Department of Space (DOS) for its implementation. The document lays out a holistic approach towards enabling and augmenting Indian capabilities to develop a domestic commercial space as well as provide a conducive environment for the space sector. The vision focuses on pursuing socio-economic development, spreading public awareness and carrying out peaceful exploration of space. Further, in terms of services like data, communication, remote-sensing or launch services can be provided both by the public and private sector where consumers can make the choice of procurement from either of the two.
In this regard, the government has laid out its focus to encourage R&D in the space sector along with ensuring that space technology and subsequent goods and services are for state priorities. Further, the government seeks to enact a stable and efficient regulatory framework to provide a fair operating environment between government bodies and non-government entities (NGEs) through Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). Additionally, the government shall focus on increasing awareness and support regarding the space domain in order to ensure a sufficient and trained workforce available for the development of the space industry. This includes inculcating scientific temperament, relevant education and support to budding start-ups.
India’s LVM3 on the Second Launch Pad in 2022, located at Sriharikota. Its payload was 36 OneWeb satellites. Image courtesy of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
More Collaboration with the Private Sector
The policy document identifies a functional private sector that can support government initiatives in space as a necessity. While India happens to be among a handful of space-faring nations, its domestic space industry remains at a nascent stage. In 2020, India accounted for 2%-3% of the global space economy i.e., 9.6 billion USD with future growth projections of 13 billion USD by 2025. Catching up with the growing market is essential to avoid being left out in a domain of strategic significance. Up until the reforms brought in 2020, all space activities were limited to government initiatives only. These reforms made way for private actors or NGEs to operate end-to-end missions. India has seen a surge in the number of startups in the space industry and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
Demarcation of Responsibilities
Further, the policy document lays out roles for different institutions relevant to the space domain where the DOS would be responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies with ISRO being the primary government space agency. In terms of establishing and maintaining a conducive environment for all activities space-related, the document demarcates the scope, roles and responsibilities of all actors in the industry including the IN-SPACE, NSIL, DOS and ISRO. The opening up of the space sector would increase the number of private companies and the categorical distinction of all actors with defined roles will streamline all processes like delegation of tasks and interoperability among the government and private sector. Through this, the government hopes to achieve greater outputs.
India and the Second Space Age.
It should be noted that this is the very first space policy document available in the public domain as the Indian space program operated in the silo of scientific research and was not part of any nationally integrated strategy. The policy being released subsequently with the 2020 reforms suggests that Indian space strategy now focuses on becoming a crucial player in the Second Space Age. Analysts have suggested that this document serves as the foundation for India’s role in Space 2.0. Unlike other space-faring nations, India lacked a significant domestic manufacturing hub and demarcation of roles and responsibilities among actors which this policy document has now fulfilled.
While the policy document highlights the necessity for the growth and development of the space sector, it makes no mention of space security or counter-space capabilities. In the past years, discussion around national security and space priorities has become part of the strategic discourse. Since the document is the first of its kind, subsequent releases in the future might deal with the subject matter or an entirely different policy document on space security strategy may be formulated with the armed forces as key stakeholders.
India has long maintained its position as a responsible space-faring nation, consistent with its scientific research and development with the government maintaining an official position that favored disarmament. While India does not actively pursue an arms race in outer space and supports the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) treaty, its efforts in space have a security dimension too. Research into ASAT capabilities in India started under the administration of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the tests were conducted in March 2019 in the subsequent administration under Narendra Modi. With its own ASAT test named Mission Shakti under the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, India showed that it has not left security considerations unchecked and is capable of deterrence.
Conclusion
Space is a domain which brings out possibilities for cooperation with other nations. Interestingly enough, the document mentions pursuing international relations which indicates that India’s space capabilities could be harnessed in its foreign policy activities. For instance, Indian space assets like the RISAT series in addition to the optical, high resolution and hyperspectral imaging could be deployed in the Arctic region that could assist Indian research stations with climate monitoring and domain awareness. Such initiatives would further provide transparency with other space-faring nations and more diplomatic engagements. It must be noted that achievements in space have brought significant soft power to India and therefore, it is absolutely crucial for the public-private ecosystem to take form in order to support its endeavours in outer space.