Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is actively involving students and young researchers in satellite development, payload experiments, and space missions.
Under the Student Satellite Programme, led by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, student teams from universities and colleges receive technical mentoring from ISRO scientists, along with integration support and launch opportunities. So far, 17 student satellites and payloads have been authorized, of which 11 have already been successfully launched. Participating institutions include 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, and CV Raman Global University.
Dr. Singh highlighted that nearly 850 students participated in IN-SPACe’s student competitions on Can-sized satellites and model rockets. The Model Rocketry and CanSat India Student Competition held in October 2025 at Kushinagar saw 67 teams launch rockets carrying CanSat payloads up to 1 km.
To increase access, Space Technology Incubation Centres (STICs) and Regional Academic Centres for Space (RAC-S) have been established across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, allowing students from smaller towns to work on indigenous space technologies. ISRO also offers internships and project training for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students.
The initiatives are complemented by IN-SPACe mentorship, entrepreneurship support, and technical guidance, enabling the next generation of space innovators and entrepreneurs. The Government has earmarked around ₹10 crore annually for student-focused space education and outreach programs.
Dr. Singh emphasized that these efforts align with India’s vision of creating an inclusive and vibrant space ecosystem, involving students, academic institutions, startups, and industry in strengthening the country’s position in the global space sector.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
