Centre tightens ISRO exit rules after over 100 scientists resign or seek voluntary retirement from key missions

The Department of Space (DoS) has tightened the rules governing resignations and voluntary retirement of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists working on flagship national missions after a significant increase in exits from the organisation.

The move follows reports that more than 100 scientists have either resigned or sought voluntary retirement in recent months, including personnel associated with the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and other strategically important missions.

According to an internal memorandum dated July 14, the DoS has directed that resignation and voluntary retirement requests from Group 'A' scientific and technical personnel associated with Gaganyaan and other important missions "may not be accepted as a matter of routine." Instead, such cases must be forwarded to the Department of Space, along with recommendations from the respective ISRO centre directors, for a final decision.

What has changed?

The new directive effectively reverses an administrative arrangement introduced in November 2020, under which directors of ISRO centres and heads of units had been empowered to accept resignation and voluntary retirement requests from Group 'A' scientific and technical personnel up to the Scientist/Engineer-SG level.

Under the revised framework, directors will no longer routinely approve exit requests from scientists working on critical national missions. Instead, every such application must undergo scrutiny at the Department of Space before a decision is taken.

The directive has been issued to major ISRO centres, including the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Space Applications Centre (SAC), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), and the Master Control Facility (MCF).

Why has the government intervened?

The internal memorandum acknowledges what it describes as a "spate of requests" for resignations and voluntary retirement from scientific personnel, warning that the departures have "severely impacted" the implementation of projects of national importance.

According to the directive, the increase in exits includes scientists associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan mission and other key programmes, prompting the government to centralise approval of resignations to ensure continuity of critical projects.

More than 100 departures reported

While the Department of Space has not officially released the number of resignations, multiple reports citing ISRO sources estimate that between 100 and 120 scientists have either resigned or are in the process of leaving the organisation.

The U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru has reportedly witnessed around 80 departures, while at least 20 scientists are said to have left the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The actual number could be higher, according to officials quoted in media reports.

Senior scientists among those who left

Reports indicate that some of the departures involve senior scientists who held leadership roles in major programmes.

Among those reported to have resigned is Victor Joseph T, who served as Project Director of the LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III) programme at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. LVM3 is the launch vehicle designated for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

Media reports, citing ISRO sources, have also referred to the departure of the SpaDeX project director from the U R Rao Satellite Centre and a young scientist who contributed to Chandrayaan-3 simulations. However, ISRO has not officially confirmed the identities or circumstances surrounding all reported resignations.

ISRO chairman responds

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan acknowledged that the organisation has witnessed a notable number of departures but said the agency is equipped to manage the impact on ongoing programmes.

According to reports, Narayanan said that employee exits are a part of every organisation and that the purpose of the new directive is not solely to retain scientists but also to ensure that nationally important projects do not suffer sudden disruptions. He added that responsibilities would be reassigned wherever necessary so that mission schedules remain on track.

Private space sector seen as a pull factor

Although the Department of Space has not officially attributed the resignations to any specific reason, the tightening of exit rules comes amid rapid growth in India's private space ecosystem.

Since the space sector was opened to private participation in 2020 and the Indian Space Policy was introduced in 2023, hundreds of space startups have emerged across the country. Industry observers believe expanding opportunities in the private sector have increased demand for experienced ISRO scientists, though neither the Department of Space nor ISRO has formally linked the recent resignations to this trend.

Significance for India's space programme

The directive comes at a crucial time for India's space programme. ISRO is preparing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission while simultaneously advancing projects such as Chandrayaan-4, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and Mangalyaan-2.

By requiring central review of resignation requests from scientists associated with these missions, the government aims to minimise disruptions arising from the loss of experienced personnel working on strategically important programmes.