ISRO revises voluntary retirement, resignation norms for scientists linked to Gaganyaan, key missions
New Delhi, July 17
The Department of Space has revised the authority and procedure for accepting voluntary retirement and resignation requests from ISRO's Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel, directing that such requests from scientists associated with the Gaganyaan mission and other important national projects should not be accepted as a matter of routine.
In an Office Memorandum (OM) issued on July 14, the Department said the decision was taken after noticing a spate of voluntary retirement and resignation requests from scientific personnel, which was affecting the implementation of projects of national importance.
"Of late, it has been noticed that there has been a spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group 'A' Scientific/Technical personnel of ISRO, including those associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan and other important missions/projects, severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance," the memorandum stated.
Referring to its earlier Office Memorandum dated November 25, 2020, the Department said Directors of Centres and Heads of Units had earlier been delegated powers to accept notices for voluntary retirement under FR 56(k) and Rule 43 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, as well as resignations of all Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel up to the level of Scientist/Engineer-SG or equivalent (Level 13A).
However, in view of the recent trend, the Department has decided that "voluntary retirement and resignation requests from Scientific & Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan and other important Mission/Projects may not be accepted as a matter of routine."
The memorandum further advised Centre Directors and Heads of Units not to accept requests for voluntary retirement or resignation from Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan mission or any other important mission or project until its realisation.
It said that if any such request is received, even from personnel up to the rank of Scientist/Engineer-SG, it should be forwarded to the Department along with "clear recommendations of the Directors of Centres/Heads of Units for final decision."
The Department also directed all Centre Directors and Heads of Units to give wide publicity to the Office Memorandum and ensure that the revised instructions are "strictly complied with".
The memorandum said the revised instructions have been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Gaganyaan is a matter of national pride, no doubt. But these scientists are humans too – they have families, aspirations, and career goals. If someone wants to move on after contributing significantly, why block them? The government should investigate WHY so many are leaving instead of locking the doors. Reasonable concerns deserve reasonable solutions.
As an Indian, I'm proud of our space achievements, but this feels like a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of restricting movement, why not offer retention bonuses, better research facilities, or faster promotions? Our best minds deserve to be treated well, not trapped. Jai Hind to our scientists though! 🚀
Look, I understand the concern – Gaganyaan is critical for India's space ambitions. But treating scientists like bonded labour is not the answer. Maybe if ISRO offered competitive packages like SpaceX or private Indian space startups, people would stay on their own. This memo shows more worry about staffing than about innovation. Hope they reconsider.
Good move by the government! Gaganyaan is not just any project – it's our first human spaceflight mission. Losing key scientists mid-way could derail years of work and crores of investment. There's nothing wrong with asking engineers to see the mission through, especially given the national importance. Make in India! 💪
I'm a scientist's daughter, so I know how tough it can be. Long hours, bureaucracy, and limited career growth drive people away. Restricting resignations won't fix the root cause. If ISRO wants to retain talent, they should modernise their HR
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