India's global space market share likely to rise fivefold
Washington, Aug 14
India's share of the global space market could rise fivefold within seven years as policy reforms and closer ties with the United States accelerate the growth of its private space industry, the US Department of Commerce has said.
India currently accounts for less than 2 per cent of the global space market. But that share is forecast to reach 10 per cent within the next five to seven years, the department's International Trade Administration said in its August Aerospace and Defence Exporter Alert.
"India's private sector space ecosystem is developing rapidly, and the Indian government's steps towards privatisation will create opportunities for international space companies as well," it said.
The alert designated India's space sector as its "Market of the Month". It highlighted investment prospects for US companies in satellite systems, advanced spaceflight, connectivity, manufacturing and related technologies.
The United States and India have cooperated in space since India's first rocket launch in 1963. That rocket was an American-made Nike-Apache.
The partnership has since expanded through scientific exchanges, joint working groups and collaborative projects. NASA and US companies have also supplied technology and components to the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO.
At the same time, emerging Indian space startups are seeking to expand their operations and manufacturing presence in the United States, the department said.
In February 2026, the Business Council for International Understanding led an International Trade Administration-certified US commercial space mission to Bengaluru. The alert described it as successful.
"Space is a major area of US-India cooperation, benefiting both countries through commerce, technology, and joint policy efforts," the department said.
The commercial relationship is being developed through the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group. Cooperation has also been strengthened by the TRUST initiative launched in 2025, according to the alert.
A Commercial Space sub-working group is jointly led by the US Department of Commerce and India's Department of Space. It seeks to remove barriers facing companies in both countries.
Its work covers market access, procurement, foreign direct investment and export controls. The February 2025 joint statement by the leaders of the two countries also called for stronger cooperation in space exploration, safety and professional exchanges.
The department urged US companies seeking entry into India to attend the Bengaluru Space Expo from September 7 to 9. The event will bring together industry leaders and policymakers and offer Indian and international companies an opportunity to showcase their capabilities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a fantastic development for both countries. The US-India space partnership has so much potential. Looking forward to seeing more collaboration in satellite technology and space exploration. 🇺🇸🇮🇳
Finally, the private sector is getting its due in India's space programme. I remember when only ISRO could do this. Now our youth can dream of building rockets in their garages like Elon Musk did. Chandrayaan-3 proved our capabilities; now let's turn that into economic growth. 💪
While this is good news, I hope we don't become too dependent on the US for technology. We should learn from our experiences with defence deals. Collaboration is fine, but self-reliance in critical space tech should remain our priority. We've been burned before by technology denial regimes.
As a young engineer, this gives me so much hope! Our generation wants to build things, not just work in IT services. The Bengaluru Space Expo is going to be huge. I'm already planning to attend with my team. This is our moment to shine! ✨
Having worked with ISRO scientists, I can say they are world-class. The combination of Indian engineering talent and American commercial experience could be a game-changer for the global space economy. Smart move by both governments to formalize this partnership.
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