**Summary:**
The Government of India, through IN-SPACe (Department of Space), is actively supporting state government initiatives to expand the space sector. This support includes establishing space manufacturing clusters, supporting space tech education in state universities, and providing access to technical facilities.
IN-SPACe is encouraging states to establish space manufacturing clusters by offering to create Common Technical Facilities within these clusters, equipped with capital-intensive infrastructure necessary for space system development. The government has earmarked Rs. 500 Crores for this initiative, with up to Rs. 100 Crores available per state for establishing these facilities. States need to approach IN-SPACe with detailed project proposals, which can include upstream (spacecraft/launch vehicle systems), midstream (ground stations/hubs), or downstream (space applications/user terminals) projects. States can also collaborate with IN-SPACe to establish space manufacturing clusters, Centers of Excellence, and promote space tech education in state universities.
To be eligible, states must:
1. Identify a dedicated land parcel of at least 40 acres, easily accessible by railroad/air and near major cities.
2. Establish civic infrastructure at the space manufacturing cluster and build necessary civil infrastructure for the common technical facilities.
3. Identify Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) for manufacturing units within the cluster, potentially seeking consultation from IN-SPACe.
4. Commit to maintaining the technical facility post-transfer and demonstrate the availability of technically trained personnel for operations.
IN-SPACe will initially retain ownership of the facilities, later transferring it to the State Government at a mutually agreed timeline. After the ownership transfer, the State Government shall assume full responsibility and bear all the expenses for Operation Maintenance (OM) of the common technical facilities. The mode of operations and maintenance of the facilities shall be decided by the respective state governments.
To support space tech education, IN-SPACe has developed a B.Tech. Minor Degree curriculum in Space Technology, approved by AICTE for adoption by state and central universities. Currently, 8 colleges affiliated with states have adopted the space tech minor/major at various levels. IN-SPACe, in association with ASI and ISRO, has also introduced CANSAT and Model Rocketry India Student competitions, with 138 student teams applying for the 2024-25 competition and 80 teams participating in the finals planned for October 28-30, 2025, in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
These initiatives aim to create a one-stop solution for space system development and production, enhance India's position as a global supplier of cost-competitive space-grade components, boost exports, increase India's share in the global space economy, and generate employment for skilled and unskilled workforce in the respective states/regions. IN-SPACe has established a Technical Centre, providing Indian industry access to design tools, space system assembly, integration, and testing facilities.
Key Entities Referenced
IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space, Government of India, responsible for promoting and regulating private sector participation in space activities.
Department of Space: The department of the Government of India responsible for the Indian Space Programme.
AICTE: All India Council for Technical Education, a statutory body responsible for technical education.
ASI: Not defined in the document. Assuming it is a Space related agency, partnering with INSPACe and ISRO for student competitions.
ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation, the national space agency of India.
Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh: Location in Uttar Pradesh, India where the finals of the INSPACe CANSAT Model Rocketry India Student Competition 2024-25 are planned.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where a written reply was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh regarding the support to states for their initiatives in the space sector.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.
Department of Space
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SUPPORT TO STATES
FOR THEIR INITIATIVES IN THE SPACE SECTOR
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 5:44PM by PIB Delhi
Government of India through IN-SPACe, Department of Space, has sought willingness from state
governments to establish spacemanufacturing clusters in their respective states. IN-SPACe will establish
Common Technical Facilities within the space manufacturingclusters which will have capital intensive
infrastructure required for realising the space systems.
With respect to support for state run universities, the followingschemes/initiatives have been introduced:
1. IN-SPACe has developed curriculum for B.Tech. Minor Degree in SpaceTechnology. This
curriculum is approved by AICTE for adoption bystates or central universities. Presently, 08
colleges affiliated withstates have adopted the space tech minor/major at various levels.
2. IN-SPACe in association with ASI and ISRO has introduced CANSAT andModel Rocketry
India Student competitions from 2023 onwards. For the IN-SPACe CANSAT /Model Rocketry
India Student Competition 2024-25 atotal of 138 student teams from across various Indian states
haveapplied. Eighty student teams from various states and centraluniversities are participating in the
finals planned from October28-30, 2025 at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
The Government of India has earmarked Rs. 500 Crores, out of which up to Rs. 100 Crores per state can be
provided for establishment of Common Technical Facilities. The States need to approach to IN-SPACe with
the detailed project proposal.
The type of space-related projects or initiative that states canpropose can be either Upstream (spacecraft/space
systems and launchvehicle systems) or Midstream (Ground Stations/Hub) or Downstream (space
applications/user terminals). However, states can opt to work with IN-SPACe for establishing space
manufacturing cluster, Centre ofExcellence and adoption of Space Tech Education in the stateuniversities.
A Selection Committee, chaired by the Secretary, DoS, with representatives from IN-SPACe and the Office of
Member (Finance), will evaluate the proposals received from the State Governments vis-à-vis the following
pre-requisites:
i. The state shall identify a suitable dedicated land parcel of not less than 40 acres of area, easily accessible
by rail/road/air and having proximity to major cities for establishment of the proposed space-
manufacturing cluster.
ii. The states should be willing to establish civic infrastructure at the space manufacturing cluster as well as
build necessary civil infrastructure required for housing the common technical facilities.
iii. The State Government will identify the Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) to establish the
manufacturing unit in the proposed cluster and may seek consultation from IN-SPACe in this regard, if
needed.
iv. The State Government shall commit to maintain the technical facility post-transfer and demonstrate
availability of technically trained manpower for operations.
IN-SPACe will identify, design, procure, install and commission the equipment at the respective common
technical facilities. IN-SPACe will initially retain the ownership of the facilities and subsequently transfer to
the State Government at a mutually agreed timeline.
After the ownership transfer, the State Government shall assume full responsibility and bear all the expenses
for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the common technical facilities. The mode of operations andmaintenance of the facilities shall be decided by the respective state governments.
The expected outcomes of these initiatives on space development at the state level is given below:
i. The manufacturing clusters will enable a one-stop solution for space system development and
production, ensuring quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery, thus significantly boosting the space
economy.
ii. Production of cost competitive space-grade components can strategically position India as a global
supplier, thus increasing the exports from the country and enhancing its share in the global-space
economy.
iii. The manufacturing cluster will aid in generation of employment for skilled and unskilled workforce in
the respective states/regions.
IN-SPACe has established a Technical Centre wherein, the Indian industry venturing in space sector can have
access to design tools, space system assembly, integration and testing facilities including climatic chambers,
thermovac chambers, vibration test facility for testing and validating the space hardware.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2159245)