India\u2019s space program has thousands of vacant roles it\u2019s struggled to fill, isn\u2019t spending money fast enough to meet its mission timelines, and may be undervaluing intellectual property it sells to the private sector.<\/p>\n
Those are just some of the findings of India\u2019s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which this week published reports on grants it\u2019s been asked to approve for India\u2019s space program.<\/p>\n
The committee noted both budget cuts for India\u2019s space program and \u201csignificant underutilization\u201d of allocated funds.<\/p>\n
One reason for problems is poor procurement processes that make it hard for India\u2019s Space Research Organization (ISRO) to buy the stuff it needs. Another is a \u201csignificant shortage of human resources\u201d that has left India\u2019s space program with 2,383 open positions.<\/p>\n
The problems it found left the Committee\u2019s members worried that major missions ISRO plans may run late. The space agency is close to uncrewed test flights for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight project, but won\u2019t hit the March 2026 target for the first mission. India also plans two robotic moon landings in 2027 and 2028 under the Chandrayaan program, plus the launch of a Venus orbiter in 2028.<\/p>\n
The committee expressed concern that unless India\u2019s space program can hurry up and spend its budget, those missions won\u2019t fly on time.<\/p>\n
The report notes that India\u2019s space program has both scientific and strategic significance, so delays aren\u2019t merely inconvenient \u2013 they can also impair India\u2019s drive for self-reliance in advanced technologies.<\/p>\n
One product of that ambition is India\u2019s NavIC constellation of 12 navigation satellites.<\/p>\n
The Committee noted that only eight are functional, but some are unable to provide positioning, navigation and timing services due to malfunctioning of onboard atomic clocks.<\/p>\n
India acquired those atomic clocks from overseas, and has since developed its own alternatives. The committee\u2019s report urges replacement of the satellites.<\/p>\n