BENGALURU: Private participation has a role in expanding India’s space sector, but publicly funded technology, infrastructure and expertise must be subject to transparency, proper valuation and accountability when made available for commercial use, a Joint Action Council (JAC) representing Isro employee associations has said.In a notice circulated among employees, the JAC reads: “We’re not opposed to private participation in the space sector. Indian industry, PSUs and start-ups have an important role in expanding India’s space ecosystem. But private participation must strengthen national capability, not weaken ISRO’s core functions.”It seeks a level playing field, transparency and accountability in the use of capabilities developed through public investment. “Technology developed with public money cannot become a source of private profit without an adequate return to the nation,” the notice says.Public wealthThe JAC has specifically referred to the 410th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, saying it had raised concerns over the transfer of space technologies developed with public funds at prices disproportionately lower than their commercial value. It calls for appropriate valuation, clear pricing norms and licensing fees reflecting the true value of technology.“Public wealth cannot be transferred at throwaway prices or treated as a freebie for private entities,” JAC says. In a section titled “Our Position”, they say: “Isro must retain the complete chain of capability-from research and development to realisation, integration, testing and launch.”.They argue that industrial-scale production of mature launch systems can be expanded through capable public-sector and strategic Indian industrial institutions, provided this doesn’t erode Isro’s own technological expertise, manpower, facilities or independent mission capability.The JAC proposes a public-sector-led industrial production system involving NSIL, HAL and other capable strategic Indian aerospace manufacturers for serial production of mature launch vehicles. The stated objective is to increase production capacity while retaining public ownership and accountability and ensuring that Isro retains its technological core.The notice also says Isro must retain the ability to use technologies developed through its work whenever required in the national interest, even when such technologies are made available to private entities.Prioritise NGLV, don’t transfer LVM-3The JAC has called for NGLV to receive the highest priority, with dedicated and permanent manpower for critical areas such as engine development. It has also taken a specific position on LVM-3 technology, saying it should not be transferred in a manner that weakens Isro’s own capability before NGLV is developed and established.“Launch-vehicle technology is not merely a commercial commodity,” the notice says, adding that it has implications for “technological sovereignty, strategic autonomy and national security”. The JAC says strategic technologies, critical infrastructure and national-security launches must remain under effective public control and within the assured capability of the govt and Isro.It also says strategic launches and satellites connected with national security should remain under govt control and be undertaken by Isro.Pvt sector must create capabilityOn start-ups and private enterprises, the notice says they should be encouraged where they create genuine and sustainable national capability.At the same time, it calls for due diligence, proper valuation and accountability when public land, infrastructure and technology are made available for commercial use.The JAC frames the issue more broadly as one concerning scientific capability created through public investment. It says Isro’s launch vehicles, satellites, laboratories, test facilities and launch complexes represent decades of public investment and accumulated knowledge.The notice asks who should benefit from knowledge created with public money and what the nation receives when public technology and infrastructure are opened for commercial use. Its stated principle is that “Public investment must ultimately create public value.”Not competing objectivesIt concludes that the growth of private industry and the preservation of Isro’s public capabilities need not be treated as competing objectives. “India needs a strong space industry alongside a strong Isro,” the notice says, while adding that private participation should complement the national space programme rather than come at the cost of the institution that created India’s space capability.The JAC says its concerns are not raised out of hostility towards private industry, but over the manner in which public technology, infrastructure and capabilities are transferred or opened for commercial use. It says the scientific capability created with people’s money should continue to serve the people.
