Department of Space (Annual Report 2025-26)

Overview & Genesis

• Genesis: Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in 1962. Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) started in 1962. ISRO formed in 1969. Brought under the newly constituted Department of Space (DOS) and Space Commission in 1972.
• Mandate: Promote development and application of space science and technology for socio-economic benefits. Directly under the Prime Minister.

Core ISRO/DOS Centres & Establishments

• VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) | Thiruvananthapuram: Lead centre for Launch Vehicles (PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, SSLV, NGLV, RLV, Rohini, Gaganyaan HLVM3)
• URSC (U R Rao Satellite Centre) | Bengaluru: Design and development of Satellites (Comm, Nav, RS, Interplanetary). Includes ISITE campus
• SDSC-SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) | Sriharikota: Space Port of India. Launch Base Infrastructure and Solid Motor production
• LPSC (Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre) | Thiruvananthapuram/Bengaluru: Liquid & Electric Propulsion (Earth Storable, Cryogenic, Semi-Cryogenic). Includes Tumkuru campus for Titanium alloy tanks
• SAC (Space Applications Centre) | Ahmedabad/Delhi: Space Applications (Communication, Navigation, RS payloads). Started as ESCES in 1966. Includes Delhi Earth Station (DES)
• HSFC (Human Space Flight Centre) | Bengaluru: Lead centre for Gaganyaan (Life support, Bio-astronautics, Crew recovery, Simulators)
• NRSC (National Remote Sensing Centre) | Hyderabad: EO Data Reception. Hosts IMGEOS. Operates Bhuvan, Bhoonidhi, and NDEM portals
• ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command) | Bengaluru: TTC & Mission Control. Hosts INMCC (COSPAS-SARSAT), NavIC Ground Segment, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), and IDSN (Deep Space Network)
• MCF (Master Control Facility) | Hassan & Bhopal: Launch & Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) or Transfer Orbit Satellite Service (TOSS) for GEO satellites
• IISU (ISRO Inertial Systems Unit) | Thiruvananthapuram: Inertial Systems (Gyros, Accelerometers, Reaction/Momentum Wheels)
• LEOS (Lab for Electro-Optics Systems) | Bengaluru: Electro-Optic Sensors (Star sensors, High-precision optics)
• IPRC (ISRO Propulsion Complex) | Mahendragiri: Assembly, Testing & Qualification of liquid engines and stages

Autonomous & Academic Bodies

• PRL (Physical Research Laboratory) | Ahmedabad: Fundamental research (Astronomy, Solar Physics, Planetary Sciences)
• NARL (National Atmospheric Research Lab) | Gadanki: Atmospheric, ionospheric, and space weather research (Radars, Lidars, HPC)
• NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre) | Shillong: Space tech applications for the 8 North-Eastern states
• IIRS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing) | Dehradun: Capacity building in RS & GIS. Founded as IPI (1966). Hosts CSSTEAP (UN-affiliated)
• IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science & Tech) | Thiruvananthapuram: Deemed University (established 2007) for space science and technology education

Space Commerce & Reforms (CPSEs & Regulator)

• Antrix Corporation Ltd. (ACL) | CPSE: Providing space sector products and services worldwide
• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) | Schedule 'A' CPSE (2019): Owning satellites, providing space-based services, building launch vehicles/satellites through Indian industry, Technology Transfer
• IN-SPACe | Autonomous Nodal Agency: Single window agency to promote, handhold, regulate, and authorize space activities by Non-Government Entities (NGEs). Permits sharing of ISRO infrastructure. HQ in Ahmedabad

Earth Observation & Geo-Portals

• Bhoonidhi: ISRO's EO Data Hub. Uses STAC (Spatio-Temporal Asset Catalogue). Implements open data policy (>5m resolution free; <5m priced for NGEs via NSIL). Hosts SARPOLTool 3.0.
• Bhuvan Geoportals: Includes Bhuvan NextGen (with Bhashini AI translation), Bhuvan PRAGATI (project monitoring), and Bhuvan Panchayat 4.0 (Gram Panchayat planning).
• MOSDAC: Meteorological & Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre. Generates INSAT-3DS Active Fire products and ocean outlooks for the Indian Navy.
• VEDAS: Visualisation of Earth Observation Data and Archival System. Hosts Krishi-DSS (Drought Monitoring).
• NICES: National Information System for Climate and Environment Studies (Carbon cycle, ECVs).
• NDEM V5.0: National Database for Emergency Management. Acts as DR node for ICR-ER (Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response, MHA).
• IMAGEOS (Shadnagar) / AGEOS (Antarctica): Ground segments for satellite data reception.

Governance, Agriculture, & Disaster Tech

• Agriculture:
  • YES-TECH: Gram Panchayat level crop yield estimation for PMFBY.
  • MahaAgritech & MP-AgriGIS: State-level crop yield/area estimation using Machine Learning.
  • SASYA: Satellite-based crop mapping system using Auto-ML.
  • FASAL 2.0: Automation of Semi-Physical Yield Model (SPM).
• Disaster Management:
  • ROCERS: Online Chemical Emergency Response System (decision support system for Kerala).
  • FLEWS: Flood Early Warning System (Assam/NER).
  • SILAAS: Satellite Integrated Landslide Assessment and Alert System.
  • SMART AXOM: Mobile app for lightning/thunderstorm alerts (Assam).
  • Geo-Ganga: Portal for National Mission for Clean Ganga.
  • C-FLOOD: Unified Inundation Forecasting System for river basins (Godavari/Tapi).
• Resource Management:
  • GeoMGNREGA / Yuktdhara: Monitoring natural resource assets and rural employment.
  • Sankalan 2.0: GIS-based mobile app for AMRUT 2.0 master plan formulation.
  • UWals / ASMS: Urban Water Information System and Aquifer Sustainability for AMRUT cities.
  • FRAMS: AI-powered Forest Resource Analysis & Management System (NESAC).

Geoscience & Renewable Energy Studies

• White Hydrogen: Exploring potential in Indian ophiolitic terrains (Nidar and Spongtang, Ladakh).
• Lithium & Rare Earth Elements (REE): Exploration using AVIRIS-NG and EMIT hyperspectral data (e.g., Raichur, Siwana Ring Complex).
• Magnesite: Exploration in Tamil Nadu using ENMAP Hyperspectral data.
• Renewable Energy: Assessing wind and solar pathways for decarbonizing India by 2050 (targeting 48% electricity generation).

Upcoming & Recent Space Missions

• NISAR: Joint ISRO-NASA Earth observing mission (L & S-band SAR) launched in 2025. Commissioned for soil moisture, cryosphere, and repeat-pass interferometry.
• GSAT-N2: Communication satellite launched Nov 2024, operationalized Jan 2025.
• CMS-03: Multi-band communication satellite launched onboard LVM3-M5 (Nov 2025).
• National Meet 2025: Outlined a 15-year roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047, including 103 Operational Missions and 16 Technology Demonstration Missions.

UPSC Relevance

Key Angles UPSC Targets:

• Institutional Roles: Differentiating ISRO centres (e.g., VSSC vs URSC vs SDSC) and distinguishing CPSEs (NSIL, Antrix) from regulators (IN-SPACe).
• Geoportals: Functions of Bhoonidhi (Data distribution) vs Bhuvan (Visualization) vs MOSDAC (Meteorology) vs VEDAS (Analytics).
• Agriculture Tech: YES-TECH (PMFBY yield), SASYA, and MahaAgritech applications in precision agriculture.
• Disaster Tech: Specific alert systems like ROCERS (Chemical), SILAAS (Landslides), and SMART AXOM (Lightning).
• Advanced Science: Exploration of White Hydrogen in Ladakh and REE mapping using hyperspectral imaging.