The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous, single-window, nodal agency and institution under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. Its establishment was announced in June 2020 by the Union Cabinet, and it became operational in 2022, headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The agency was created to solve the problem of limited private sector participation in India’s space activities, where the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) previously acted as both the operator and the regulator. The new framework, part of broader space sector reforms, aims to shift from a state-dominated model to a public-private partnership.
IN-SPACe works by acting as a single-window facilitator and regulator for Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs), including private companies and academic institutions. Its key mechanism involves promoting, enabling, authorising, and supervising the space activities of NGEs, such as building satellites and launch vehicles, and providing space-based services. It also assesses the needs of private players and facilitates the sharing of ISRO’s infrastructure and premises on a commercial and non-discriminatory basis.
This institution connects directly to ISRO, which now focuses on research and technology development, and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), which serves as the commercial arm for marketing ISRO’s products. The Indian Space Policy 2023 further solidified its role, positioning IN-SPACe as the key authorising body for all non-governmental space activities. The major change was the creation of IN-SPACe itself, which replaced the previous model where ISRO was the sole regulator.