{"id":80833,"date":"2026-08-05T18:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=80833"},"modified":"2026-08-05T18:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:04:36","slug":"challenges-faced-by-isro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-08-2026\/challenges-faced-by-isro","title":{"rendered":"Emerging Challenges Faced by the ISRO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An analysis of the ISRO headcount from data in annual reports over the last three decades shows that<strong> ISRO\u2019s current sanctioned strength vis-a-vis available employees is at 72% <\/strong>which is the lowest in recent times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The developments have revolved around<strong> unprecedented failures, slowdown of projects with top billing, fears of attrition and the emergence of nascent competition<\/strong><em> <\/em>in the form of homegrown startups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recent Failures and Slowdown: <\/strong>Back-to-back failure of the PSLV C61 and C62; delays in the realization of a first unmanned test flight G1 for the maiden Indian human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scientists Leaving ISRO: <\/strong>There have been requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group A scientific technical personnel of ISRO including those associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan and other important projects.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This severely impacts implementation of projects of national importance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contributing Factors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rigid Hierarchy: <\/strong>Many of India\u2019s laboratories continue to operate within rigid hierarchies that would appear strange in leading scientific institutions elsewhere in the world.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Switch to Private Sectors: <\/strong>Researchers are moving to private research organisations, emerging deep-tech companies, universities abroad, and\/or international collaborations where scientific autonomy has more room than administrative strictures.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low Spending on R&amp;D: <\/strong>India\u2019s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP remained between <strong>0.6% to 0.7% <\/strong>which is <strong>below the global average<\/strong> and lower than countries <strong>like China, South Korea and the US.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a <strong>relatively low investment by India\u2019s private sector<\/strong>, accounting for <strong>only around 36%,<\/strong> whereas in the aforementioned countries, <strong>private sector contributions are more than 70%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Factors: <\/strong>Lower salaries compared to developed countries and limited job opportunities for highly specialized skills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Educational and Professional Opportunities: <\/strong>Limited access to world-class research infrastructure.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Better training, exposure, and career growth opportunities abroad.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preference for global higher education for advanced degrees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lifestyle and Quality of Life: <\/strong>Better healthcare, infrastructure, and living standards abroad. It offers global recognition and networking opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: <\/strong>Approved with a \u20b91 lakh crore corpus, this scheme aims to energise private-sector R&amp;D and deep-tech startups.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It offers long-term, low- or zero-interest loans, equity investments, and funds a new Deep-Tech Fund of Funds via the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): <\/strong>The ANRF established in 2023, provides high-level strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in science and technology.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Foundation aims to mobilise funds amounting to \u20b950,000 crore during 2023\u201328 through multiple streams, including the ANRF Fund, Innovation Fund, Science and Engineering Research Fund, and Special Purpose Funds.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Geospatial Policy, 2022: <\/strong>It seeks to position India as a global leader in the geospatial sector by 2035.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The policy liberalises access to geospatial data, encouraging its use in governance, business, and research.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Space Policy, 2023: <\/strong>It builds on the space reforms introduced in 2020, which opened the domain to non-governmental entities for end-to-end participation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It aims to enhance space capabilities, promote a flourishing commercial space industry, and foster collaboration between public and private entities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Quantum Mission: <\/strong>Allocated \u20b96,003.65 crore for 2023\u201331, to advance quantum technologies through scientific and industrial R&amp;D.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BioE3 Policy, 2024:<\/strong> It encourages the creation of Biomanufacturing and Bio-AI hubs, along with a national Biofoundry network, to accelerate technology development and commercialisation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Supercomputing Mission (NSM): <\/strong>Launched in 2015, the initiative empowers universities, research institutions, and government agencies with state-of-the-art supercomputing systems connected through the National Knowledge Network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): <\/strong>Established in 2021, the mission seeks to build a robust ecosystem for semiconductor and display manufacturing.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has already approved 10 semiconductor projects across six states, including the first commercial Silicon Carbide fabrication facility in Odisha.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India AI Mission: <\/strong>The IndiaAI Mission embodies the vision of \u201cMaking AI in India and Making AI Work for India.\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is advancing rapidly, having already increased computing capacity from an initial target of 10,000 GPUs to 38,000 GPUs, ensuring accessible AI infrastructure for startups, researchers, and industries.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): <\/strong>To foster innovation at the grassroots level by providing support to students, startups, and entrepreneurs.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India must increase administrative transparency in scientific institutions, and install robust systems to redress grievances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repatriating talent is just the first step; India must create an ecosystem where brilliance can thrive, through robust institutions, academic autonomy, funding, and openness to challenging questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> An analysis of the ISRO headcount from data in annual reports over the last three decades shows that ISRO\u2019s current sanctioned strength vis-a-vis available employees is at 72% which is the lowest in recent times. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The developments have revolved around unprecedented failures, slowdown of projects with top billing, fears of attrition and the emergence of nascent competition in the form of homegrown startups. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Recent Failures and Slowdown: Back-to-back failure of the PSLV C61 and C62; delays in the realization of a first unmanned test flight G1 for the maiden Indian human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-08-2026\/challenges-faced-by-isro \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80833"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80835,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80833\/revisions\/80835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}