India, Aug. 12 -- The Government of India has issued a release:

The Government, through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), has formulated a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for the development, deployment and operation of Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellations, with a view to enhancing the country's space-based observation capabilities, space economy and building an indigenous, self-reliant Earth Observation ecosystem in the country.

Under this framework, Non-Government Entities (NGEs) including private industry, start-ups and, where relevant, academic and research institutions are enabled to design, build, own and operate Earth Observation satellite constellations on an end-to-end basis. The envisaged roles include:

The following financial assistance, policy incentives and institutional mechanisms have been put in place by the Government to encourage private investment in Earth Observation and allied space missions:

These measures are complemented by the Indian Space Policy-2023, which provide the overarching regulatory and ease-of-doing-business framework for private participation in the space sector.

IN-SPACe has approved and signed an agreement for the country's first indigenous, fully commercial Earth Observation constellation under the PPP model with a private consortium named Allied Orbits Private Limited. The details are as follows:

The PPP-based Earth Observation constellations are expected to strengthen national capabilities in the following manner:

Overall, the PPP framework for Earth Observation is aimed at building a self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar), data-sovereign EO ecosystem, with the private sector as the primary driver of manufacturing and downstream innovation, while the Government continues to act as an enabler, regulator, and anchor customer.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Ind. Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State PMO; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.