Harsh Goenka Highlights ISRO Chairman’s Salary.. Sparks Debate on Scientists’ Pay

The salaries paid to scientists contributing to India’s space programme have sparked a fresh debate following a social media post by Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises. He highlighted the contrast between the reported annual expenditure of ₹15 crore on a prominent Doordarshan anchor’s programme and the ISRO chairman’s basic annual salary of approximately ₹27 lakh. Goenka argued that India must ensure its top scientific talent receives compensation that reflects its contribution if the country is to compete globally in space research. The discussion has gained attention as Indian scientists continue to achieve major milestones through missions such as Chandrayaan, prompting calls for better salaries and incentives.

Former ISRO chairman S. Somanath had previously spoken about the challenges of attracting young talent to the organisation. While discussing career opportunities at ISRO with IIT students in 2023, he reportedly said that around 60% of the students left after the presentation, with lower starting salaries compared with private companies being one of the reasons. Former DRDO scientist Ravi Kumar Gupta has also shared his experience of working in the government sector, highlighting differences in salaries and benefits compared with private industry. While some believe scientists deserve better financial rewards, others emphasise the satisfaction of conducting research, making discoveries and contributing to the nation.