The Challenge of Indian National Space Policy

ABSTRACT

Space capabilities are important for national growth and well-being. They impact civil development and national security in equal measure. At the same time, space capabilities are costly assets with many applications and are in great demand. The need for optimal and balanced exploitation of resources demands a practical space policy that serves to fulfill the demands of most stakeholders and is in line with global trends. In the case of large countries like India, with an equally large population of over 1.28 billion, the complexities are varied and manifold, as are the challenges and opportunities. India’s national space policy, at present, is limited in scope with a focus on communication and remote sensing satellites. As India’s space capabilities and competencies grow, the need for a broader national space policy rises. India is cognizant of this, and this article discusses the various challenges in the formulation of a comprehensive national space policy for India.

Notes

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3. The total strength of ISRO in 2014 was 17,625 personnel, of which only 12,155 are in scientific and technical categories. For details, see report of the Department of Space, Government of India, “Human Resources,” http://dos.gov.in/sites/default/files/HumanResources_0.pdf (accessed 12 August 2016).

4. See National Civil Aviation Policy of India, http://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final_NCAP_2016_15-06-2016-2_1.pdf (accessed 10 August 2016).

5. Report of Planning Commission, Government of India, “Report of Expert Group to Review the Methodology for Measurement of Poverty,” June 2014, http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/pov_rep0707.pdf (accessed September 2016).

6. The quote is attributed to Jeremy Bentham (1776). See J.H. Burns, “Happiness and Utility, Jeremy Bentham’s Equation, http://www.utilitarianism.com/jeremy-bentham/greatest-happiness.pdf (accessed September 2016).

7. For details on Indian policymaking, see O.P. Agarwal and T.V. Somnath, “Public Policy Making in India: Issues and Remedies,” Center for Policy Research, February 2005, http://www1.ximb.ac.in/users/fac/shambu/sprasad.nsf/0/e78490ff090249d06525730c0030abf9/$FILE/Public_Policy_Making_in_India_TV_SOMANATHAN.pdf (accessed 8 October 2016).

8. National Space Policy of the United States, https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf (accessed September 2016).

9. Matthew Bodner, “Rogozin Promises Delayed Space Policy Will be Completed in Near Future,” The Moscow Times, 27 October 2015, https://themoscowtimes.com/news/rogozin-promises-delayed-space-policy-will-be-completed-in-near-future-50520 (accessed 12 November 2015).

10. Canada’s Space Policy Framework, http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/publications/space-policy/ (accessed September 2016).

11. Germany, Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, “Making Germany’s Space Sector Fit for the Future: The Space Strategy of the German Federal Government,” 30 November 2010, http://www.bmwi.de/English/Redaktion/Pdf/space-strategy,property=pdf,bereich=bmwi2012,sprache=en,rwb=true.pdf (accessed November 2016).

12. Australia, “Principles for National Space Industry Policy,” Government of Australia, http://www.spaceindustry.com.au/Documents/Principles%20for%20a%20National%20Space%20Industry%20Policy.pdf (accessed September 2016).

13. Space Security Index, 2015, http://spacesecurityindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/executive.summary.2015-electronic.pdf (accessed September 2016).

14. National Space Policy of the United States, https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf (accessed September 2016).

15. For details, see Government of United Kingdom, “National Space Security Policy,” April 2014, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307648/National_Space_Security_Policy.pdf (accessed September 2016).