India has generated foreign exchange revenue amounting to USD 143 million through the commercial launch of foreign satellites over the past decade, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha.
In a written response, the minister stated that from January 2015 to December 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had successfully launched 393 foreign satellites and three Indian customer satellites aboard its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), LVM3, and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
India has emerged as a key player in the global space industry, having launched satellites for 34 countries, including major space-faring nations.
Among the 393 foreign satellites launched, the United States accounted for the highest number at 232, followed by the United Kingdom (83), Singapore (19), Canada (8), and South Korea (5). Other countries include Luxembourg (4), Italy (4), Germany (3), Belgium (3), Finland (3), France (3), Switzerland (2), the Netherlands (2), Japan (2), Israel (2), Spain (2), Australia (1), the United Arab Emirates (1), and Austria (1).
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Currently, India has signed space cooperation agreements with 61 countries and five multilateral organisations. These partnerships span across areas such as satellite remote sensing, satellite navigation, satellite communication, space science, planetary exploration, and capacity building.
India has firmly established itself as a major space power, with a series of successful missions reinforcing its credentials. The country achieved significant milestones in 2023, including the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 at the lunar south pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission.
As part of its ambitious roadmap, ISRO is gearing up for the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability. The mission, set to launch later this year, will see a crew of astronauts sent into orbit before safely returning to Earth.
The four selected astronauts were trained at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, the same facility where Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, trained before his spaceflight in 1984.
Beyond Gaganyaan, India is setting its sights even higher, with plans to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
The past decade has also witnessed the rapid growth of India's private space industry, particularly following the government’s decision to open the sector to private enterprises in 2020.
Indian space startups have emerged as strong contributors to the industry, bolstering innovation and enhancing the country’s role in the global space economy.
With ISRO’s continued expansion and private sector participation on the rise, India’s presence in the international space arena is set to grow further, both in scientific advancements and commercial ventures.
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