ISRO Implements Centralized Review Process for Scientist Resignations

New Centralized Approval Process for ISRO Personnel

On July 14, 2026, the Department of Space issued an internal memorandum reversing a 2020 policy that had previously delegated the authority to accept resignations to individual center directors. Under the new guidelines, requests for voluntary retirement or resignation from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel—particularly those working on flagship missions like Gaganyaan—can no longer be approved as a routine administrative matter.

Instead, center heads must now forward all such applications to the Department of Space, accompanied by their formal recommendations. This change in protocol is explicitly aimed at preventing sudden staff exits from disrupting projects of national importance. The memorandum, signed by Joint Secretary (Personnel) S.R. Rajashekar, described the recent frequency of departure requests as a spate that is severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance.

Senior Departures and Impact on Flagship Missions

While the DoS has not officially confirmed the total count of resignations, multiple sources indicate that between 100 and 120 scientists have left the organization in recent months. These departures include key personnel such as Victor Joseph, the project director for LVM-3 at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the SpaDeX project director from the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), and Aditya Rallapalli, a project manager for simulations for Chandrayaan-3.

The loss of such specialized expertise creates immediate challenges for ongoing and future missions. A senior scientist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that the departure of experienced staff complicates progress on critical initiatives including the Venus mission, Mangalyaan-2, and Chandrayaan-4. This scientist emphasized that the years of specialized knowledge invested by these individuals are difficult to replace quickly.

Market Dynamics and the Private Space Ecosystem

The exodus is widely attributed to the rapid growth of India’s private space sector. As the government encourages private participation in satellite manufacturing and launch vehicle technologies, startups and aerospace firms are increasingly recruiting experienced ISRO talent for leadership roles. Experts suggest that these private entities often provide compensation packages that exceed the fixed salary structures available within the government agency.

“As India’s space sector opens up to greater private participation, professionals with expertise in satellite systems, launch vehicles, propulsion, avionics and mission operations are finding a wider range of career opportunities across startups, research institutions, academia and the aerospace industry.”

Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of SpaceKidz

Despite these market pressures, officials have downplayed the suggestion of a systemic crisis. Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh stated that the organization operates with a culture of continuity, noting that even retired personnel often remain involved in projects. According to Singh, the project work continues regardless of individual departures, as the team structure is designed to be large and resilient.

Historical Attrition and Recruitment Targets

Staff turnover is not a new phenomenon for the space agency. Official data reveals that approximately 700 employees resigned between 2012 and 2024, and historical records indicate that nearly half of all new recruits hired between 2004 and 2007 also left the organization. To address current vacancies, the government is actively pursuing a recruitment drive.

Whether these administrative measures will satisfy the demand for experienced specialized talent in the long term remains a point of observation for stakeholders across the industry.

Sources: thehindu.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com.