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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6060
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 01, 2026
VENTURE CAPITAL FUND FOR THE SPACE SECTOR
6060. SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the details of number of startups invested in through the
venture capital fund for the space sector and the amount of
investments made, year-wise;
(b) the details of the list of startups supported, their area of
innovation along with investment received by each startup
under the fund especially of those based in Andhra Pradesh;
(c) the details of the utilisation of the investment, year and
company-wise;
(d) the details of the returns provided by supported startups to the
Government, year and company-wise;
(e) the details of estimated jobs created through the said fund and
its investment, year and company-wise; and
(f) the details of the technical assistance provided to startups
through this fund?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
****(a) to (f)
The venture capital fund for space startups has been set up by
SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL) as the investment
manager in the name of Antariksh Venture Capital Fund. The
Fund received SEBI’s registration on October 31, 2025 and
declared its initial closing on November 10, 2025 at ₹1,005
crores. Subsequently, post SEBI registration activities viz.
appointment of the custodian, registration with depositories for
issuance of AIF units, and constitution of the Screening
Committee and Investment Committee (IC), were completed.
In parallel, evaluation of Spacetech startups has been
continuing and four proposals are at an advanced stage
following the Pre-IC approval. Given the nascent stage of the
Spacetech ecosystem, particularly in cases where startups
have had limited or no prior exposure to institutional investors,
there is a need felt to provide handholding to such startups, in
order for them to organize their data better and share the
requisite information with SVCL for the sanction process.
With the handholding, SVCL is hopeful to complete the detailed
appraisal shortly and place it before the Investment Committee
for its consideration. It is expected that SVCL will be in a
position to fund the approved startups in the first quarter of
FY2027 after satisfactory completion of the third party
due-diligence and execution of definitive documentation.
****