Department of Space | Rajya Sabha, written answer | PIB, 23 July 2026 | UPSC / PCS Mains: GS-III (space, science-technology, infrastructure, private sector participation) | Prelims: ISRO, IN-SPACe, NSIL, SSLV, LVM3, NGLV, Sriharikota
Background and Context
In a parliamentary answer, completed work, approved projects, facilities under construction, technologies under development and future targets come together on one page. In the exam it is essential to read them separately, because "done", "approved", "being built" and "target" are four different states. This article places the things printed in the answer according to these states and treats the answer itself as the source of every statement.
What Is the News?
On 23 July 2026, a parliamentary answer of the Department of Space titled "India's Space Launch Programme" was posted on PIB. According to the answer, in the three years from July 2023 to June 2026, India launched 12 launch vehicle missions, 11 national satellites and 9 satellites of international customers. The answer includes eight achievement statements, a list of four launch vehicles, the approval of the Third Launch Pad, the development of the launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam, measures for the private sector, a table of NSIL's launch services revenue, seven advanced technologies and the target of USD 44 billion.
Key Facts and Figures
| The answer | Department of Space, "PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INDIA'S SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAMME"; PIB Delhi, "Posted On: 23 JUL 2026 4:01PM", Release ID 2288300. The answer was given by Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh in written form in the Rajya Sabha ("in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today"). The question number and the text of the question are not printed on the PIB page. |
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| The three-year count | "In the last 3 years (July 2023 to June 2026), India has successfully launched 12 launch vehicle missions, 11 national satellites and 9 satellites for international customers." In the answer this count is not broken down vehicle-wise or year-wise. |
| The answer's eight achievement statements | (1) Chandrayaan-3: "the first country to successfully carry out soft-landing near south pole of the Moon"; (2) Aditya-L1, "first solar observatory mission", on PSLV; (3) the milestone of 100 launches from Sriharikota; (4) SPADEX: "4th country to demonstrate docking/undocking in space"; (5) SSLV's development completed with the third developmental flight and a technology transfer agreement to industry; (6) NISAR, on GSLV; (7) CMS-03, on LVM3: "heaviest satellite to GTO from its soil"; (8) the next LVM3 launch: "heaviest satellite ever from Indian soil for a US customer". "First", "4th" and "heaviest" are the answer's own statements. |
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| Four launch vehicles | "Developed and operationalized four launch vehicles till date i.e. PSLV, GSLV, GSLV MkIII and SSLV", whose use is stated for earth observation, communication, navigation and space science & exploration satellites and for commercial launch services for national/international customers. In the achievement statements the name "LVM3" is printed; the two names are kept as printed in the answer's separate sentences. |
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| Launch sites | "Government has approved the establishment of Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, for the Next Generation Launch vehicles of ISRO and also to function as a standby for the Second Launch Pad"; "The SSLV Launch Complex (SLC) in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu is also being developed as India's second rocket launch site", for SSLV and launches of private start-ups and non-governmental entities. The answer's statement: the existing two pads (First and Second) "along with the upcoming Third Launch Pad and SSLV Launch Complex provide sufficient launch capacity". |
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| Measures of NGE and IN-SPACe | "NGEs have been permitted to establish temporary test facilities within ISRO premises". Measures stated by IN-SPACe: financial support for startups and MSMEs, streamlined authorization processes, skill development programmes, technology commercialization and promotion of space manufacturing clusters (five items). For Kulasekarapattinam: "Once operational, this facility will substantially enhance the country's launch capacity" (the answer's future statement). |
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| NSIL: revenue from launch services | "Revenue generated by M/s. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) through launch services during the last three years (Audited Financials)". The table in printed order, "Revenue (in Lakhs)": 2024-25: 44,743.13; 2023-24: 21,821.10; 2022-23: 1,16,613.16. Our calculation (1 crore = 100 lakhs): respectively about Rs. 447.43 crore, Rs. 218.21 crore and Rs. 1,166.13 crore. |
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| Advanced technologies under development (seven) | 200t thrust Semi-cryogenic engine; Semicryogenic booster stage to increase LVM3's capability; demonstration of booster stage recovery with VTVL technology; high thrust LOX-Methane engine; partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) with LOX-Methane; Winged Body Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV) for the Reusable Launch Vehicle; air-breathing propulsion technology and technology demonstrator vehicle. |
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| The space economy target | "IN-SPACe has also developed a strategic roadmap ... India's space economy is targeted to reach USD 44 billion by 2033". This is the target of the IN-SPACe roadmap; the current size, base year or method of calculation is not printed in the answer. |
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| Not found in the text | The cost, completion date or capacity number of the Third Launch Pad or Kulasekarapattinam; a vehicle-wise or year-wise launch list; NSIL figures for 2025-26; dates of the seven technologies; the current base for USD 44 billion. |
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Analysis: Five States, One Answer
First, the language of states. In the answer, "developed and operationalized" is printed for the four vehicles, "approved the establishment" for the Third Launch Pad, "is also being developed" for Kulasekarapattinam, "development" or "demonstration" for the seven technologies and "targeted to reach" for the space economy. This classification is a way of reading based on the answer's verbs; the answer itself does not make a list of these states.
Second, the count and the achievement claims are separate. 12 missions and 11 and 9 satellites are the answer's numbers. The sum of national and international satellites is 20 (our calculation); how this sum connects with 12 missions is not printed in the answer, so no matching has been done here. No dates are printed with the eight achievement statements; only the reference to the whole period "during the period" is there.
Third, the launch infrastructure. The Third Launch Pad is stated to be approved for new-generation launch vehicles and as a standby for the Second Launch Pad. The SSLV Launch Complex is being developed for SSLV and private start-ups. The assessment of "sufficient launch capacity" is the answer's. No capacity number, cost or completion date is printed with it.
Fourth, the private sector. Permission for NGEs to build temporary test facilities within ISRO premises and IN-SPACe's five measures are printed. The answer gives no result or number of these measures.
Fifth, NSIL's table. The launch services revenue of three financial years is in printed order: 2024-25, 2023-24, 2022-23. The three numbers are different and the answer states no reason, trend or comparison; no trend has been derived here either. The 2025-26 figure is not in the answer. The conversion from lakhs to crores is only for ease of reading (our calculation).
Sixth, the technologies under development. Seven items are printed: semi-cryogenic engine, booster stage for LVM3, booster recovery with VTVL, LOX-Methane engine, partially reusable NGLV, ORV and air-breathing propulsion. No date or cost is with any of them, so their progress cannot be assessed from the answer.
Seventh, the target. USD 44 billion by 2033 is, according to the answer, the target of IN-SPACe's strategic roadmap. With it, infrastructure, private participation, innovation, manufacturing and a competitive ecosystem are mentioned as "strategic priorities". The current size or base year is not printed.
Way Forward: Unanswered Questions
- By when will the Third Launch Pad and Kulasekarapattinam become operational and what will their capacity be? Not in the answer.
- What is the vehicle-wise and year-wise detail of the 12 missions? Not in the answer.
- What is NSIL's launch services revenue figure for 2025-26? Not in the answer.
- On what timeline are the seven technologies? Not in the answer.
- What is the current base of the USD 44 billion target? Not in the answer.
- The situation after 23.07.2026 was not checked.
Exam-Useful Points
Prelims: PSLV, GSLV, LVM3/GSLV MkIII, SSLV; Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; IN-SPACe; NSIL; NGLV; LOX-Methane; semi-cryogenic; SPADEX; NISAR. Mains: launch capability and infrastructure; private sector participation in space and IN-SPACe's role; reusable launch technology; the targets of the space economy and their limits; the difference between a parliamentary answer's statements and independent confirmation.
Sources
Source limit: the text is taken from PIB's page; the question number and the text of the question are not printed on that page. A copy of the Rajya Sabha's own question list is not included. There is no information of any event or figure after 23.07.2026.
Related Articles
Remember: "first", "4th" and "heaviest" are the answer's own statements. The count of 12, 11 and 9 is from July 2023 to June 2026; NSIL's launch services revenue is of financial years 2022-23 to 2024-25. The text does not carry the cost, date or capacity number of the Third Launch Pad or Kulasekarapattinam. USD 44 billion is the target of the IN-SPACe roadmap.
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