The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is an organisation that has played a significant role in establishing India's place on the world map in the field of space research and exploration. Thanks to such entities, in the 21st century, India stands alongside the world's major powers in the field of space exploration. Over the past 25 years, none of ISRO's major missions has missed its mark. The world has witnessed India's achievements in this field through the successful launches of Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Mangalyaan (2014), Astrosat (2015), Chandrayaan-3 (2023) and Aditya-L1 (2023). Except for the unsuccessful soft landing attempt of Chandrayaan-2 (2019), ISRO's space science missions over the past quarter of a century have been remarkably successful. Major projects, including Gaganyaan, are also progressing with the aim of paving the way for human spaceflight. None of these achievements came about by chance; they were the result of sound policy, careful planning and close collaboration between scientists and the government. The scientific vision of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the corresponding government planning turned the dream of establishing an indigenous space research programme into reality. Along with that, the dedicated efforts of a talented group of scientists and engineers who devoted their lives to the nation helped India emerge as a global leader in this domain. However, what is now emerging from ISRO is not a story of success but of an unfortunate reality of growing attrition. Within a matter of days, more than 100 officials, including senior scientists, are reported to have resigned or opted for voluntary retirement from ISRO and its affiliated research institutions, including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). As the large-scale departure of researchers and officials began affecting the organisation's day-to-day functioning and key projects such as Gaganyaan, the Union Ministry of Science and Technology was forced to intervene. The government is now attempting to curb the loss of scientists by introducing stricter conditions for employees seeking to leave the organisation.
This apparent decline at ISRO was foreseeable even as its missions advanced towards the Moon and Mars. The primary reason is a failure in government policy. There was a time when ISRO was the preferred destination for those aspiring to build careers in space research. Interest in joining the organisation increased further after the success of Chandrayaan missions. However, the situation changed after the space research sector was opened to private individuals and institutions in 2020. This policy change had invited reproach from the very beginning. Today, several private companies and start-ups, including Skyroot, Agnikul and Pixxel, are active in the sector. Many of these organisations are led by former senior officials from ISRO and its affiliated institutions. As private companies have developed the capability to launch rockets, they have attracted not only young researchers but also experienced ISRO scientists by offering alluringly better incentives. It is in the last five years that such a major transformation has taken place. The resulting desertions have affected ISRO's functioning considerably. The indefinite delay in missions such as Gaganyaan and PSSLV is also a result of this crisis. The increased workload on the remaining scientists has become another major challenge. Consequently, many are choosing to resign because of mounting work pressure. Although private companies play an important role in the space sectors of other leading nations, they generally operate without weakening government-run research institutions. However, in India, shortcomings in policy formulation have placed the functioning of the prestigious institution ISRO itself under a cloud of uncertainty. Administrative orders alone are unlikely to resolve this problem.
This crisis should also be viewed as a consequence of the science policy pursued by the Sangh Parivar-led central government. Since the Modi government came to power, the country's scientific community has, in general, been uneasy. From the outset, the government has been accused of weakening scientific research by reducing funding and support for research institutions. This triggered widespread protests. Several distinguished scientists, including Dr Shahid Jameel, one of India's leading biotechnology researchers, joined the protest by leaving government-affiliated research positions. It is also important to recognise that, according to this view, this policy failure begins with the Modi government's approach to defining science itself. For several years, efforts have been made to create new branches such as 'Puranic Science' and 'Bharatiya Science', presenting myths and epics first as history and then as science. Claims such as the Kauravas being test-tube babies and the Sudarshan Chakra being an ancient missile have been promoted in this context. Research into the medicinal properties of cow urine, promoted in the name of Indian culture, has also received significant encouragement under the Modi government. They further cite the Uttarakhand government's allocation of a whopping Rs 25 crore to search for the mythical 'Mrita Sanjeevani' mentioned in the Ramayana. From this perspective, the current situation at ISRO is seen as the outcome of policies that undermine scientific research. And there is no reason to believe that the consequences of such policies will remain confined to ISRO alone.