India's Private Space Investment Surpasses $600 Million in 5 Years: Dr. Jitendra Singh

During a high-level review, Singh assessed plans to establish space laboratories in universities and colleges across India, with seven such labs set to be launched in the first phase.

These labs aim to provide students with hands-on exposure to satellite systems, rocketry, and mission design, helping build a skilled talent pipeline for the expanding sector.

The review followed a detailed presentation by Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, who outlined the progress of India's space reforms and the increasing participation of private players across the value chain.

India's private space ecosystem has grown rapidly in recent years, with the number of startups rising from single digits in 2019 to over 400 by early 2026.

These companies are now active in areas ranging from launch vehicles and satellite manufacturing to data services, ground infrastructure, and emerging in-orbit technologies.

To support this growth, the government has rolled out several targeted initiatives. A Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund is being operationalised with SIDBI to support growth-stage startups, while a Rs 500 crore Technology Adoption Fund is helping early-stage innovations transition into commercially viable products.

Additionally, a seed fund scheme offers grants of up to Rs 1 crore along with mentoring support for startups in the ideation and prototype stages.

Efforts are also underway to strengthen the workforce, with 17 specialised training programmes already completed and nearly 900 participants certified in areas such as satellite manufacturing, launch vehicle systems, and space cybersecurity.

The upcoming university-based space labs are expected to further enhance these efforts by offering practical learning opportunities.

On the infrastructure front, new initiatives include a privately-led Earth Observation satellite constellation under a public-private partnership model, development of a shared satellite bus platform for startups, and expanded access to facilities at the IN-SPACe Technical Centre in Ahmedabad.

- IANS