IN-SPACe: As Centre Approves Setting Up Of A New Space Board, Here Are ‘Key Takeaways’ For Students

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, the Union Cabinet gave its assent for setting up of a new Space board - the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide room for private players in the Indian space infrastructure.

The initiative is a significant step in the direction of bringing about far-reaching reforms in the Space sector aimed at guiding India advance technologically and become self-reliant.

"Key Takeaways" On IN-SPACe

• IN-SPACe will serve as an 'independent nodal agency' to be established under the Department of Space (DoS) to help India advance, improvise and leapfrog in the Space sector and allied activities.

• The Space body will help boost the participation of private sector in entire range of space activities i.e. it will hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies.

• The nodal agency will regulate and govern activities of private industries/players in the Indian space infrastructure in a friendly regulatory environment.

• It will contribute towards generation of large-scale employment in the technology sector, and help India attain the status of a global technology powerhouse.

• IN-SPACe will supplement ISRO - India's primary Space agency in carrying out a gamut of activities, projects and missions by reorienting space activities from a 'supply-driven' model to a 'demand-driven' one.

• The initiative will help ISRO focus more on R&D, new technologies, human spaceflight programme and exploration missions.

• The proposed reform will also help open up planetary exploration missions for private players through an 'announcement of opportunity' mechanism.

• The proposed initiative will help increase the socio-economic use of Space assets and activities by allowing improved access to Space assets, data and facilities.

• IN-SPACe also serves as a tribute to Vikram Sarabhai - the father of Indian Space programme.