**Executive Summary**
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched initiatives to increase student and young researcher involvement in space missions, satellite development, and payload experiments. These programs, including competitions and incubation centers, aim to democratize space technology access and foster a vibrant space ecosystem in India. The report details ongoing and planned activities related to student participation in space missions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Student Satellite Programme**
* ISRO encourages academic institutions and student teams to design and develop satellites with technical mentoring from ISRO scientists.
* Student-built satellites receive integration support and launch opportunities through ISRO missions.
* The U R Rao Satellite Centre leads this program.
**Internship and Trainee Schemes**
* Internship and project trainee schemes are available for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students.
* These programs offer hands-on research exposure at ISRO centres.
**Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs)**
* STICs are established across various regions to foster collaborative research between universities and ISRO scientists.
* They aim to help students develop indigenous space technologies under expert mentorship.
* STICs are strategically located in tier-2 and tier-3 regions to promote innovation beyond premier institutions.
**IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre)**
* IN-SPACe promotes student engagement in the space sector through competitions.
* Competitions focus on designing and developing CAN-sized satellites and model rockets.
* IN-SPACe has authorized 17 student satellites and payloads, with 11 successfully launched.
* IN-SPACe nurtures future space entrepreneurs through mentorship, pre-incubation support, and co-working facilities.
**RESPOND (Sponsored Research) Programme**
* ISRO's RESPOND programme provides financial and technical support to universities and academic institutions for research in space science and technology.
**Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S)**
* RAC-S provides regional access points to ISRO programmes, increasing exposure to space science and technology for students in smaller towns and colleges.
**Space Technology Education**
* AICTE has approved a Space Technology Minor Course.
* A National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology Education in India has been formed, aligning with the Indian Space Policy-2023.
**Competitions and Outreach**
* Nearly 850 students participated in IN-SPACE Satellite and Rocket Design Competitions.
* The Model Rocketry and CanSat India Student Competition was jointly organised by IN-SPACe, ISRO, and ASI in October 2025, involving 67 teams and approximately 500 students.
* The Government has earmarked ₹10 crore annually for student-focused educational outreach activities in space science and technology.
**Impact Analysis**
**Students**
* **Impact:** Gaining hands-on experience in satellite design, payload development, mission experiments, and advanced space technologies; receiving mentorship and launch opportunities; potential for entrepreneurship in the space sector.
* **Action Required:** Participate in ISRO's various programmes, including the Student Satellite Programme, internship schemes, STICs, and competitions.
**Academic Institutions**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for collaborative research with ISRO scientists; access to funding and technical support through RESPOND and STICs; development of indigenous space technologies; integration of space technology education through new courses.
* **Action Required:** Engage with ISRO through established programmes like RESPOND and STICs; explore opportunities for developing satellite designs and participating in outreach activities.
**ISRO**
* **Impact:** Expanding its reach and impact through increased student involvement; fostering a pipeline of future space scientists and engineers; advancing indigenous space technology development.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and expand structured initiatives for student engagement; provide mentorship, technical support, and launch opportunities.
**Government**
* **Impact:** Achieving its commitment to democratizing space technology access; building a vibrant and inclusive Indian space ecosystem; strengthening India's role in the global space sector; promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
* **Action Required:** Continue financial allocation (₹10 crore annually) for outreach activities; support the formation of committees and approval of new courses to strengthen space education.
**IN-SPACe**
* **Impact:** Playing a key role in promoting student engagement; authorizing and facilitating student satellite missions; nurturing future space entrepreneurs.
* **Action Required:** Continue organizing student competitions; authorize and support student satellite and payload missions; provide mentorship and pre-incubation support for entrepreneurs.
Key Entities Referenced
ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation, the primary body implementing student space programs and initiatives.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and other key portfolios, who is the main proponent and speaker regarding these initiatives.
IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, responsible for organizing student competitions and authorizing student satellites and payloads.
Student Satellite Programme: A key ISRO initiative encouraging students to design, develop, and launch satellites.
Indian Space Policy-2023: Referenced policy document guiding the formation of a National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology Education.
Department of Space
ISRO Expanding Student Participation in Space
Missions; 11 Student Satellites Launched with
Mentorship and Launch Opportunities: Dr.
Jitendra Singh
Nearly 850 Students Participate in IN-SPACe Satellite and
Rocket Design Competitions: Union Minister Dr Jitendra
Singh
ISRO Mentoring Young Innovators to Build Satellites, Offering
Launch Opportunities to University Student Satellites: Dr
Jitendra Singh
Kushinagar Hosts National Model Rocketry Competition as
ISRO’s Student Satellite Programme Gives Real Mission
Experience to Young Researchers: Dr Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 7:38PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS in
the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr.
Jitendra Singh today informed the Rajya Sabha that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has
launched a series of structured initiatives to actively involve students and young researchers in satellite
development, payload experiments, and space missions.
Replying to an Unstarred Question asked by Smt. Sumitra Balmik in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh
said that the Government is committed to democratizing access to space technology and ensuring that
students from across the country, including tier-2 and tier-3 institutions, get opportunities to contribute to
India’s rapidly expanding space ecosystem.
The Minister said that ISRO has instituted dedicated programmes that allow student researchers to work
on real space technology projects, including satellite design, payload development, and mission
experiments. Under the Student Satellite Programme led by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, academic
institutions and student teams are encouraged to design and develop satellites with technical mentoring
from ISRO scientists. These student-built satellites also receive integration support and launch
opportunities through ISRO missions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further noted that internship and project trainee schemes are available for
undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students from recognised institutions across the country. These
programmes provide hands-on research exposure at ISRO centres, enabling young researchers to workdirectly with advanced space technologies.
To further expand academic participation, Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs) have been
established across different regions of the country. These centres facilitate collaborative research between
universities and ISRO scientists and help students develop indigenous space technologies under expert
mentorship.
The Minister also highlighted the role of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
(IN-SPACe) in promoting student engagement in the space sector. IN-SPACe has organised student
competitions focused on designing and developing CAN-sized satellites and model rockets, in which 97
student teams comprising nearly 850 students have participated.
Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the House that IN-SPACe has authorised 17 student satellites and payloads so
far, of which 11 have already been successfully launched. These missions have involved institutions from
across the country including Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Indian Institute of Space Science &
Technology, RV College of Engineering, Amity University Maharashtra, MIT World Peace University,
Assam Don Bosco University, CV Raman Global University, and several other academic institutions,
reflecting the growing national participation in student-led space missions.
Emphasising the Government’s commitment to making space research more inclusive, the Minister said
ISRO’s RESPOND (Sponsored Research) Programme provides financial and technical support to
universities and academic institutions across India to undertake research in space science, space
technology, and applications.
In addition, Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S) have been created to serve as regional access
points for ISRO programmes, ensuring that students from smaller towns and colleges gain exposure to
space science and technology.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Space Technology Incubation Centres have also been deliberately located in
tier-2 and tier-3 regions, helping develop indigenous technologies and promoting innovation beyond
premier institutions.
The Minister further informed that AICTE has approved a Space Technology Minor Course, and a
National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology Education in India has been formed in line with
the Indian Space Policy-2023 to strengthen space education in the country.
Highlighting the growing enthusiasm among students, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Model Rocketry and
CanSat India Student Competition was jointly organised by IN-SPACe, ISRO and the Astronautical
Society of India (ASI) in October 2025 at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, where 67 teams comprising nearly
500 students designed, fabricated, and launched model rockets carrying CanSat payloads up to an altitude
of about 1 kilometre.
The Minister also informed that the Government has earmarked around ₹10 crore annually for student-
focused educational outreach activities related to space science and technology.
Dr. Jitendra Singh added that IN-SPACe is also nurturing the next generation of space entrepreneurs
through several initiatives including mentorship from domain experts, pre-incubation entrepreneurship
support programmes, and co-working facilities at IN-SPACe Technical Centres.
He said these initiatives are part of the Government’s broader vision to build a vibrant and inclusive space
ecosystem in India, where students, startups, academic institutions, and industry all contribute to the
country’s expanding role in the global space sector.PHOTO: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh replying to a Parliament Question in the Rajya Sabha
on Thursday.*****
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