Bengaluru, Nov 6 (UNI) India’s space programme has reached a pivotal stage, with nearly 85 per cent of all systems used in ISRO missions now supplied by Indian industries, MSMEs, and startups, said V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday.
Addressing over 500 senior delegates and nearly 20,000 business professionals at the 7th India Manufacturing Show (IMS) 2025 in Bengaluru, Narayanan highlighted the critical role of India’s industry and startup ecosystem in powering 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.
Citing the recent launch of the CMS-03 communication satellite on November 2 aboard India’s heaviest rocket, LVM3-M5 (Bahubali), Narayanan said, “While this mission was led by ISRO, almost 85 per cent of its systems were built by Indian industries.”
Recalling India’s early days in space, Narayanan said, “Our first rocket was launched on November 21, 1963, using parts received from the United States. We carried rocket parts on bicycles and even transported our first experimental satellite on a bullock cart. Today, we launch satellites to the Moon and Mars.”
He noted key milestones, including the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched in July 2023. While NASA invested ₹10,300 crore to build its radar payload, India built a similar advanced payload entirely through domestic industries. “Again, 80 per cent of the contribution came from Indian industries,” he added.
Narayanan highlighted ISRO’s growing partnerships with over 450 Indian companies and the dramatic rise in space startups- from just three or four in 2020 to more than 330 today. Production of five PSLV rockets has been handed over to a consortium led by HAL and L&T, with plans to have 50 per cent of PSLV production eventually handled by Indian industry. Additionally, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology has been transferred to HAL, with production of 16 SSLVs set to move to private industries.
Notable achievements in India’s space journey were also underscored. These include the soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023, the Mars Orbiter Mission’s (Mangalyaan) precise journey of 600 million kilometres, and the development of three indigenous cryogenic engines, overcoming earlier technology denial.
Marking milestones, Narayanan said ISRO completed its 100th rocket launch on January 29, 2024, and recently developed a 32-bit indigenous processor jointly with HCL- advancing electronics self-reliance. India currently operates 56 satellites and aims to increase this three to four times in the next four years, while raising annual launches from 10-12 to around 50 within five years.
“The 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,” Narayanan said. He lauded industrial leaders such as Baba Kalyani and the L&T team, as well as MSMEs and startups, for their contributions.
Narayanan concluded, “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. Behind ISRO’s every success is the strength of our industries, MSMEs, and startups. Together, we will take India to new frontiers.”
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