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New Delhi : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on July 29, 2021, said that the Space Activities Bill, which will include aspects pertaining to regulation and promotion of private players in space sector, is under active consideration of the Government.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2021, Dr Singh said the Government is in the process of creating an ecosystem to encourage more private participation in indigenous production of space technologies, services and devices, according to a PIB release.
The Government of India had announced space sector reforms in June 2020. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was created as an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space with the mandate of promoting, handholding, licensing, authorisation, and monitoring of private space activities in India.
Access to Department of Space (DOS) facilities and expertise are extended to private entities to support their space activities. Announcement of opportunities were done offering challenges in new domains of space technology. The Government of India is encouraging transfer of technologies developed in the field of space to Indian industries, Dr Singh said. Apart from this, it is bringing in new sector policies and guidelines and also revising existing policies, he added.
IN-SPACe, which is under creation, will have Safety and Security Directorate to ensure security of ISRO installations when allowing access to private entities. Public consultations were done and the relevant Departments and Ministries were consulted, Dr Singh asid.
An exclusive webinar in ‘Unlocking India’s potential in space sector’ consisting of four sessions covering the four vertical of space programme was organised with the participation of Industrialist/Academia/Start-ups as well as general public. All suggestions have been taken into consideration and appropriately addressed.