Context:

Recently, India's space sector has made a record direct contribution of around $24 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) to India's GDP in the last decade, according to a recent report prepared by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

More on the News: 

• The report was presented during the very first National Space Day celebrations in New Delhi on August 23, 2024.
• The report was initiated by the ISRO to evaluate the socio-economic impact of the space sector from 2014-2023.
• The study was conducted by Indian economics research firm econONE and Novaspace.

Key Findings:

• India’s space sector has directly contributed $24 billion to India's GDP from 2014-2023.
• The sector has Supported 96,000 jobs in public and private sectors.
• Economic multiplier effect of $2.54 for every dollar produced by the space sector.
• The Indian space workforce is 2.5 times more productive than the broader industrial workforce.
• Communications satellites contributed 54% to the space economy, followed by navigation (26%) and launches (11%).
• The main industries supported by the space sector were telecom (25%), information technology (10%) and administrative services (7%).

India’s Space Sector:

• The space sector of India has benefitted from decades of consistent investment, with $13 billion invested in the last decade. It is the 8th largest space economy in terms of funding in the world.
• India’s space industry is experiencing both expansion and a broader range of activities.
• The space sector of India was diversifying and now had over 700 companies including 200 start-ups and had seen revenues grow to $6.3 billion in 2023, which was about 1.5% of the global space market.
• The space economy is projected to grow fivefold over the next decade, reaching USD 44 billion.

Reform in the Space Sector of India:

• New Space Policy 2023: It allows private companies to engage in end-to-end space activities, from launching satellites to operating ground infrastructure, marking a significant shift in India's space sector
• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was established in 2020, to serve as a single-window agency for authorizing and promoting private space activities, 
• New Space India Limited (NSIL) was also created in 2020 for commercializing space technologies and manufacturing launch vehicles

Future India Mission: 

• India plans to launch its female humanoid robot, Vayumitra, into space in 2024 to perform astronaut tasks before the Gaganyaan mission in 2025.
• Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS): India aims to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035, enhancing its capabilities in human spaceflight.
• Moon Landing by 2040: The country targets landing Indian astronauts on the Moon by 2040, showcasing its long-term ambitions in space exploration.