Space an Important component of India’s Economy

Space Startups attracted private investment amounting to more than Rs.1,000 crore in this Financial Year since April

Space is becoming an important component of the India’s economy, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in a recent press interview.

Space StartUps attracted private investment amounting to more than Rs.1,000 crore in this Financial Year since April, he said.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said this while participating in a National TV Conclave here.

“India’s Space economy today stands at a modest $8 billion, but our own projection is that by 2040 it will multiply manifold. But more interesting is that according to some international observers, for example the recent ADL (Arthur D Little) Report mentions that we could have the potential of $100 Billion by 2040,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said ISRO has so far launched more than 430 foreign satellites, earning more than 290 Million Euros from European satellites and over 170 Million US Dollars by launching American satellites.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, India has a rapidly rising number of Space sector Startups since Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi initiated reforms in the Space sector. Within a short span of just about four years, the number of Space Startups has gone up from a mere single digit to over 1180, with some of the earlier ones having turned into lucrative entrepreneurs.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has broken taboos of the past by opening the Space sector to public-private-participation. From just 1 Startup in the Space sector in 2014, we now have 190 Space Startups,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh gave full credit to PM Modi for enabling India’s Space scientists to vindicate the dream of their founding father Vikram Sarabhai by “unlocking” India’s Space sector and providing an enabling milieu in which India’s huge potential and talent could find an outlet and prove itself to the rest of the world.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the first Chairman of ISRO and the founding father of India’s Space Programme, always insisted on ISRO playing a meaningful role “nationally” and said it was a vindication that during the nine years of the Government led by Prime Minister Modi, the youth talent of India, which was waiting to be explored, got new wings.

“India was always had the huge talent pool and passion to dream big, but finally it was PM Modi who gave them a perfect outlet,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s space missions are designed to be cost effective, building upon human resources and skills.

“The Russian moon mission, that was unsuccessful, cost Rs.16,000 crore, and our (Chandrayaan-3) mission cost just around Rs.600 crore,” he said, adding, “Our cerebral resource is much, much more than our material resource finance.”

Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s Space missions have leapfrogged in the last nine years under the leadership of PM Modi, especially in the last four years, and are being hailed world over.

“Even though the USA and the then Soviet Union had started their Space journey long before us and America also landed a human being on the surface of Moon in 1969, it was nevertheless our Chandrayaan that brought home the evidence of water on the surface of the Moon,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s Space Technology is virtually touching every person’s life, with application of Space Technology in different sectors like Disaster Management, SVAMITVA, PM Gati Shakti, Infrastructure such as Railways, Highways & Smart Cities, Agriculture, Water Mapping, Telemedicine and Robotic Surgery.

Referring to Ms. Nigar Shaji, Project Director, Aditya L1 Mission, ISRO and Ms. Kalpana Kalahasti, Associate Project Director, Chandrayaan-3, ISRO, both of whom were sharing stage with him, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “India’s Space programme is witnessing a big change as Women are now leading the Space projects.”

On ISRO’s future plans, Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s first unmanned “Gaganyaan” mission is undergoing a series of preliminary tests.

“Before the manned Gaganyaan mission, there will be a test flight next year, which will carry ‘Vyommitra’, the female robot astronaut,” he said.

ISRO’s Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a human crew to an orbit of 400 km and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

Referring to the Deep Sea Mission project, Dr Jitendra Singh said that a vehicle called MATSYA will carry three persons to a depth of 5,000-6,000 metres for exploration of deep-sea resources like minerals. This mission, he said, is expected to be realised in the next three years.

“If an Indian travels to Outer Space about the same time as another Indian explores the deep sea 5 kms below, that may be a mere coincidence,” he said.

4.0 Measures for Control of Emissions from Stubble Burning

• MoA&FW in 2018 launched scheme for providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. During 2018-2022, total fund released to Delhi and other states under the said scheme is Rs. 2440.07 crores using which, over 2 lakh crop residue machineries have been delivered to individual farmers and CHCs, and over 39,000 CHCs have been established.

• CPCB has framed guidelines for providing one-time financial assistance for setting up of paddy straw based pelletization and Torrefaction plants which may help in addressing the supply chain issues and the issue of open burning of paddy straw in agriculture fields in Northern Region. A maximum amount of Rs. 28 lakhs or 40% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of a 1 TPH pellitisation plant, whichever is lower, shall be given as onetime financial support by CPCB, subject to a maximum total financial support of Rs. 1.4 crore per proposal. Similarly, a maximum amount of Rs. 56 lakhs or 40% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of a 1 TPH torrefaction plant, whichever is lower, shall be given as onetime financial support by CPCB, subject to a maximum total financial support of Rs. 2.8 crore per proposal. A corpus of Rs. 50 crores have been earmarked for utilisation through the guidelines. A total of 09 plants have been sanctioned so far (7 in Punjab, 1 in Haryana and 1 in UP) and also one proposal approved in-principle.

• CPCB has also issued an addendum to the guidelines under which one-time financial assistance is provided to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Zilla Parishads of the states of Punjab, Haryana, NCT of Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for establishing paddy straw based briquetting plants for use of briquettes for cremation purpose only.

• Directions issued by CAQM to State governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to strictly and effectively implement framework and revised action plan to eliminate and control stubble burning.

• From 10.11.2023 onwards, 33 scientists of CPCB were deployed as flying squads for assisting the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) for intensifying monitoring and enforcement actions towards prevention of paddy stubble burning incidents in 22 districts of Punjab and 11 districts of Haryana. The flying squads are coordinating with the state Government/ nodal officers/ officers from respective Pollution Control Boards towards prevention and control of stubble burning in their respective districts and sending their daily reports to CAQM. All teams have been recently recalled in view of paddy harvesting season coming to an end.

5.0 MSW and C&D Waste

• CPCB published guidelines (available on)

3. Environmental Management of Construction & Demolition (C & D) Wastes’ in March, 2017

4. ‘Guidelines on DUST Mitigation Measures in Handling Construction Material & C&D Wastes’ in November 2017.

5. Disposal of legacy waste by bio-mining and bio-remediation to address open burning and landfill fires

• CPCB has issued direction to all SPCBs/ PCCs for deployment of Anti-Smog Gun and implementation of adequate dust mitigation measures at construction projects/ sites having area more than 20,000 sq. meters.

• CPCB has issued directions under Section 5 of E(P) Act to all SPCBs/PCCs for implementation of SWM Rules, 2016 with reference to fire incidents at MSW dumpsites.

• All these guidelines and Directions are available on CPCB website to be implemented by SPCBs/PCCs

6.0 Technical Interventions

• Research projects are being carried out by CPCB in collaboration with premier institutions like IIT, NEERI, etc. under Environment Protection Charge (EPC) funds which provide scientific inputs for taking focused action towards improvement in air quality of Delhi NCR. Based on the results of one such project, advisory has been issued to State Boards to use dust suppressant, along with water to control dust at unpaved roads, roads with heavy traffic and construction sites, as about 30% reduction in dust concentration was observed up to 6 hours after application of dust suppressant.

• CPCB issues a daily report comprising of AQI of Delhi and NCR towns, comparative AQI status, year-wise trends of PM concentration, hotspots for the day, AFE counts, contribution of stubble burning and meteorological forecast. This report is prepared based on the inputs available from various sources such as IMD, SAFAR, IARI, etc., and disseminated through CPCB website.

7.0 Close Monitoring & Ground level implementation

• Central Pollution Control Board has been continuously deploying dedicated CPCB’s teams on the field during the winter season from 2017 onwards to check on-ground scenario of air pollution related activities and refer these to implementing agencies for necessary action.

• 03.12.2021 onwards 40 officers of CPCB have been deployed as flying squads, for conducting incognito inspection of industries, construction sites etc. in various areas of Delhi NCR. Based on CPCB reports, further action is taken by Commission on Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining areas (CAQM) including issuance of closure directions.

8.0 Regular Stakeholder Consultation, Public & Media Outreach

• Continuous interactions and coordination with government bodies, public agencies, urban local bodies for assessment of mitigation measures and to combat air pollution through review meetings for air quality management in Delhi-NCR. 41 review meetings convened as on date.

• Twitter and Facebook accounts have been created for public outreach and complaint redressal is closely monitoring the complaints on SAMEER app and social media platforms (Twitter & Facebook). Sameer and social media complaints are resolved through enforcement agencies and redressal status are being shared with respective agencies.

• Dedicated media corner on CPCB website informs latest developments and actions taken.

9.0 Regulatory Actions

• Directions prescribing measures for control of pollution from various sources such as implementation of RECD system/ dual fuel kits in DG sets, use of cleaner fuels in industries, shift to EV/ CNG/ BS VI diesel fuel in transport sector, implementation of dust control measures at C&D sites etc., have been issued by CAQM, wherein CPCB is also a member and provided technical inputs to CAQM. Further, policy to curb air pollution in NCR has also been formulated.

• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was prepared for implementation under different Air Quality Index (AQI) categories in pursuant to the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order dated December 02, 2016.

• CPCB prepared a revised GRAP, based on which, a revised GRAP has been published by CAQM on 05.08.2022, which has come into effect from 01.10.2022. GRAP revised again on 06.10.2023. CPCB is also a member of the sub-committee responsible for invoking various provisions under GRAP.

10.0 Other actions

• In order to control road dust emissions, CPCB is funding NCR ULBs for construction/ repair of roads and procurement of anti-smog guns and Mechanical road sweepers under EPC funds,

• In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB is funding retrofitment / upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR under EPC funds.