113 space activity approvals granted to 52 non-government entities: Jitendra Singh

IN-SPACe has granted 113 authorisations to 52 non-government entities, including 18 start-ups, for space activities, Parliament was informed. India has around 440 space technology start-ups, while cumulative investments in the sector reached approximately USD 618.5 million by March 2026

New Delhi: Space regulator IN-SPACe has granted 113 authorisations to 52 non-government entities (NGEs) – 18 of them start-ups – to carry out various space activities, since the sector’s opening to the private sector, Union Minister Jitendra Singh told Parliament on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha, the minister stated that around 440 space technology startups are currently registered in India, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s start-up India portal.

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Singh said that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) — the commercial arm of ISRO — in coordination with IN-SPACe, has transferred various technologies developed by ISRO/Department of Space to private entities.

“As on date, NSIL has signed 118 Technology Transfer Agreements for transferring 83 technologies developed at ISRO/Department of Space to Indian Industry,” he added.

The transferred properties include small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) technology and the Indian Mini Satellite-1 (IMS-1) bus.

“NSIL has transferred many technologies to Indian start-ups in the space sector and has been providing hand-holding for them to successfully assimilate the technology and to use it for commercial basis,” Singh said.

Besides, the government has introduced several investment support schemes for space start-ups, such as the IN-SPACe seed fund scheme, the technology adoption fund (TAF), and the Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund.

“Cumulative investments in Indian space startups have reached approximately USD 618.5 million as on March 31, 2026, with the investment landscape progressively shifting from early-stage seed funding towards larger growth-stage investment rounds,” the minister said.