**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) initiatives to involve student researchers in space technology projects. Key programs include Student Satellite Projects, Internship and Project Trainee Schemes, and Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs). IN-SPACe has also organized student competitions and authorized satellite/payload projects, with 11 successfully launched.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ISRO's Student Researcher Programs:**
* **Student Satellite Projects:** Facilitates academic institutes and student teams in designing, developing, and launching student satellites and payloads with ISRO's technical mentoring and support.
* **Internship and Project Trainee Schemes:** Offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students hands-on research experience at ISRO centers.
* **Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs):** Six STICs have been established across India to foster indigenous space technology development through student projects mentored by professors and ISRO scientists.
* **IN-SPACe Initiatives:**
* Organized two student competition events focused on CAN-sized satellites and model rockets, with 97 teams and approximately 850 students participating.
* Authorized 17 student satellites/payloads, with 11 successfully launched.
* Established the RESPOND program to provide financial and technical support to academic institutions for space research.
* Launched Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S) to promote space technology activities in different regions and provide exposure to students from smaller towns and colleges.
* Formed a National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology Education in India in 2023.
* AICTE has approved a Space Technology minor course.
* Allocated a yearly budget of approximately Rs. 1000 lakhs for students' educational outreach activities.
* Jointly organized the Model Rocketry & CANSAT India Student Competition in October 2025.
* Offers support to young space entrepreneurs through mentorship, pre-incubation programs, and co-working spaces at IN-SPACe Technical Centres.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Student Researchers**
* **Impact:** Gaining practical experience in space technology design, development, and research; opportunities for hands-on learning and potential career development in the space sector.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in ISRO and IN-SPACe programs, competitions, and initiatives.
* **Academic Institutions**
* **Impact:** Enhanced research capabilities through ISRO's RESPOND program; opportunities to collaborate with ISRO and develop specialized space technology courses and curriculum.
* **Action Required:** Engage with ISRO's research programs and consider offering AICTE-approved Space Technology minor courses.
* **ISRO and IN-SPACe**
* **Impact:** Fostering a pipeline of skilled talent in space technology; advancing indigenous space technology development; promoting wider participation in space activities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and expand existing programs and initiatives, and allocate resources for student outreach and entrepreneurship support.
* **Young Space Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Access to mentorship, pre-incubation support, and co-working spaces to develop and scale their space-related ventures.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the entrepreneurship support schemes offered by IN-SPACe.
Key Entities Referenced
ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation, implementing various student research programs and initiatives.
IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre, organizing student competitions and authorizing student satellites/payloads.
RESPOND projects: ISRO's Sponsored Research Programme, providing financial and technical support to academia for space research.
Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC): ISRO's initiative to establish centers for space research and development of indigenous space technologies.
Indian Space Policy-2023: Policy document influencing the advancement of space technology education in India.
Department of Space
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INVOLVEMENT OF
STUDENT RESEARCHERS
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 3:37PM by PIB Delhi
ISRO runs structured programs that allow student researchers to participate in real space technology
projects:
i. Student Satellite Projects: ISRO’s initiative under the U R Rao Satellite Centre enables
academic institutes and student teams to design and develop student satellites and payloads,
with technical mentoring, integration support and launch opportunities.
ii. Internship and Project Trainee Schemes: Open to undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral
students across recognized institutions, providing hands-on research experience at ISRO
centres.
iii. Space Technology Incubation Centre (SITC): ISRO has established 6 STICs under various
regions of country covering all the states to carry out the space research to develop
indigenized space technologies. STIC projects are carried out by students mentored by
Professors & ISRO scientist.
In addition to this, Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has
organized two student competition events aimed at familiarizing participants with the design,
development, and manufacturing of CAN-sized satellites (7U satellites) and model rockets. A total
of 97 student teams, comprising approximately 850 students, have participated in these events.
So far, IN-SPACe has authorized 17 student satellites/payloads, out of which 11 have been launched
successfully. Details are as follows:
Sl. No. Satellite/Payload Institution Involved
1. Aazadisat 1 Satellite SpaceKidz India, Chennai
2. Aazadisat 2 Satellite SpaceKidz India, Chennai
3. StarberrySense on POEM-2 of PSLV-C55 Indian Institute of Astrophysics,
Bengaluru
4. ARIS on POEM-2 of PSLV-C55 Indian Institute of Space Science &
Technology, Thiruvananthpuram
5. PiLOT on POEM-2 of PSLV-C55 Indian Institute of Space Science &
Technology, ThiruvananthpuramSl. No. Satellite/Payload Institution Involved
6. BeliefSat-0 on POEM-3 of PSLV-C58 K J Somaiya Institute of Technology
(KJSIT), Mumbai, Maharashtra
7. WeSAT on POEM-3 of PSLV-C58 LBS Institute of Technology for Women,
Trivendrum, Kerala
8. SR-0 Demosat Satellite SpaceKidz India, Chennai
9. Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space Amity University Maharashtra, Mumbai
(APEMS) on POEM-4 of PSLV-C60
10. STeRG-P1.0 on POEM-4 of PSLV-C60 Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace
University (MIT-WPU), Pune
11. RVSAT-1 on POEM-4 of PSLV-C60 RV College of Engineering, Bangalore,
Karnataka
12. BGS-ARPIT on POEM-4 of PSLV-C60 SJC Institute of Technology (A unit of Sri
Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust),
Chickballapur, Karnataka
13. Lachit-1 Assam Don Bosco University, Sonapur,
Assam
14. DSAT-1 Spacecraft Atal Incubation Centre - Dayanand Sagar
University Innovation Foundation,
Bengaluru, Karnataka
15. SBB-1 Hosted Payload on MOI-1 Spacecraft BlueBlocks Montessori Educational
Society, Hyderabad
16. CGUSAT-1 CV Raman Global University,
Bhuvaneswar
17. SANSKARSAT-1 Laxman Gyanpith, Ahmedabad, Guajrat
Below are the key initiatives by ISRO to democratize space research beyond IITs and premier institutions:
i. Sponsored Research Programme: Academic institutions across the country can participate
and contribute in various Space related research activities through RESPOND projects. ISRO
has evolved the RESPOND programme through which necessary financial and technical
support is provided to academia for conducting research and development activities related to
Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications.ii. Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S) It is a regional level initiative to pursue
advanced research in the areas of relevance to the future technological and programmatic
needs of the Indian Space Programme and act as a facilitator for the promotion of space
technology activities in the region. RAC-S is functioning as access points for ISRO
programmes, ensuring that students from smaller towns and colleges receive exposure to
space science, space technology and space applications.
iii. Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) – ISRO has established 6 STICs under
various regions of country in tier-2 & tier-3 cities to carry out the space research to develop
indigenised space technologies.
IN-SPACe has also taken the following measures/initiatives to expand the participation of Academic
institutions and students in space activities:
In pursuance of Indian Space Policy-2023 and in consideration of the importance of advancing
space technology education in the country, a National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology
Education in India is formed during 2023.
AICTE has approved the Space Technology minor course.
Yearly budget allocated for students’ educational outreach activities is around Rs. 1000 lakhs.
Model Rocketry & CANSAT India Student Competition was jointly organised by IN-SPACe, ISRO
and the ASI during October, 2025 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. 67 teams comprising of 500 students from
universities and technical institutions across the country participated in the competition. Students
designed, fabricated, and launched the model rockets that carry CanSat payloads to around 1 km altitude.
The following initiatives/schemes announced by IN-SPACe is extending support to young space
entrepreneurs:
i. Mentorship is being provided through its resident experts
ii. Pre incubation entrepreneurship support program for entrepreneurship development
iii. Co-working space is being provided at IN-SPACe Technical Centres
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on
Thursday.
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