Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expanding student participation in space missions through structured programmes that allow young researchers to design satellites, develop payloads and participate in real mission experiments.
Replying to an unstarred question by Sumitra Balmik in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said the government is committed to widening access to space technology so that students from institutions across the country, including those in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, can contribute to India’s growing space ecosystem.
The minister said ISRO has launched several initiatives aimed at providing hands-on exposure to space technology for students and researchers.
Student satellite programme gaining momentum
Singh said that ISRO’s Student Satellite Programme, led by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, encourages academic institutions to design and develop satellites with technical mentorship from ISRO scientists. The organisation also supports integration and launch opportunities for these satellites through its missions.
So far, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has authorised 17 student satellites and payloads, of which 11 have already been successfully launched, the minister informed.
These projects have involved several academic institutions including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, RV College of Engineering, Amity University Maharashtra, MIT World Peace University, Assam Don Bosco University and CV Raman Global University, reflecting growing national participation in student-led space missions.
Competitions and innovation initiatives
Singh said student engagement is also being promoted through national competitions organised by IN-SPACe. These include satellite and model rocketry competitions in which 97 student teams comprising nearly 850 students have participated.
One such event – the Model Rocketry and CanSat India Student Competition – was organised jointly by IN-SPACe, ISRO and the Astronautical Society of India in October 2025 at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. The event saw 67 teams with nearly 500 students design, fabricate and launch model rockets carrying CanSat payloads to an altitude of about one kilometre.
Internship and research support
The minister said students are also benefiting from internship and project trainee programmes that provide research exposure at ISRO centres for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students.
To strengthen collaboration between universities and ISRO scientists, the government has established Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs) across various regions. These centres support students in developing indigenous space technologies under expert mentorship.
In addition, Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S) have been created to help students from smaller towns and institutions access ISRO programmes and research opportunities.
Strengthening space education ecosystem
Singh also highlighted the role of ISRO’s RESPOND Programme, which provides financial and technical support to universities undertaking research in space science, technology and applications.
He said the All India Council for Technical Education has approved a Space Technology Minor Course, while a national committee has been formed to promote adoption of space technology education in line with the Indian Space Policy 2023.
The government has also earmarked around ₹10 crore annually for educational outreach activities in space science and technology.
Singh said IN-SPACe is further supporting the next generation of space entrepreneurs through mentorship from domain experts, pre-incubation programmes and co-working facilities at its technical centres.
“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,” the minister said.
