Ambala, January 29:- Ambala-based Rajya Sabha member Karthikeya Sharma today asked Hon’ble Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh through a parliamentary question in Parliament about the steps taken to transform India’s state-led space programme into a globally competitive space manufacturing and launch ecosystem. He also raised questions regarding private sector participation, technology transfer for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and share of Indian companies in the global satellite launch market.
Replying in the House, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s space sector has fundamentally changed with the reforms made after 2019. With the establishment of New Space India Limited and In-Space, a single-window system has been created for the private sector. The government said that India's space economy is currently worth about $8.4 billion, which is expected to reach $40-45 billion in the next 8-10 years. The number of space start-ups has increased from single digits to about 399.
According to the government, a technology transfer agreement has been signed with HAL for SSLV and private companies like Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul and Pixel Space are active. India has launched 434 foreign satellites so far, a large number of which were launched after 2014, earning significant foreign revenue.
Besides, during the Question Hour, Karthikeya Sharma also raised the issue of employment in the gig economy. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that about 15 to 25 million people are doing gig and platform-based work in the country. He said that India has given a legal definition to gig workers and they have been provided with social security and health benefits under new labor codes.