For the first time since the government opened the space sector to private industry, nine employee bodies representing staff at ISRO centres have formally raised concerns about the direction and basis of the transition, Times of India reported.

In a joint representation dated 4 September, they have sought a written clarification from the chairman of the Space Commission.

The representation stated that private participation in defined commercial activities can coexist with a strong, publicly owned ISRO. However, it warned that reducing ISRO to a residual research and development boutique while transferring the realisation of launch vehicles and the operation of launch infrastructure out of public hands cannot be accepted without debate.

The employee bodies described the technology developed by ISRO as a national asset. They emphasised that its transfer must be transparent and accountable.

They argued that serving employees have an earned right to be informed, consulted and protected, and that natural justice and good administration require such a policy to be explained directly to the workforce by the Department.

The joint representation was signed by the ISRO Staff Association, SHAR Employees Association, ISAC Employees Association, ISRO Staff Association-LPSC, ISRO Staff Association-BBU, NRSA Employees Union, Space Employees Association-BBU, ISRO Staff Association-IPRC and SAC Employees Welfare Association.

The bodies referred to a statement reportedly made by IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka that ISRO will eventually not manufacture any launch vehicles.

They asked for clarity on whether this remark represents an approved decision of the Government of India, the Space Commission or the Department of Space. If so, they demanded details regarding its approval and authority.

The employees also sought clarity on ISRO’s future role. They asked whether design, development, realisation, integration, testing and launch of PSLV, LVM-3, SSLV and successor vehicles will continue as ISRO functions or will cease.

They further questioned whether any decision has been taken to exclude public sector undertakings from the proposed transfer of PSLV and LVM-3 production, and the justification for such exclusion.

They requested more written details of the institutional framework under which publicly developed technology, test facilities, launch complexes and know-how built using taxpayer funds and the work of generations of ISRO employees are being opened to private operators.

They stressed that ISRO was built as a national scientific institution with public funds, public purpose and a public workforce. They argued that launch-vehicle design, realisation, integration, testing and launch operations are not merely manufacturing contracts but represent the organisation’s core competence, institutional memory and strategic capability.

The representatives expressed concern that a gradual withdrawal of ISRO from launch-vehicle and satellite realisation could affect work opportunities.

They warned that existing employees may be rendered surplus, redeployed or left without meaningful work while private contractors perform the same tasks using publicly developed technology.

They added that regular recruitment to Group A, B and C posts, already constrained by vacancies and attrition, will further decline, denying opportunities to meritorious youth who look to ISRO as a public career of honour rather than as a private contractor’s workforce.

In their closing comments, the letter congratulated ISRO on the success of the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission. It concluded by stating that the submission was made in a constructive and democratic spirit. The bodies are expected to take action depending on the written response they receive.

Agencies