Over 120 Senior ISRO Scientists Resign or Seek Voluntary Retirement

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has witnessed the resignation or voluntary retirement of more than 120 senior Group-A scientists and technical experts over the past year, drawing attention as the organisation prepares for major missions including Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4 and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station. Senior personnel from key ISRO centres, including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), U. R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), are among those who have stepped down.

In response, the Department of Space (DoS) has directed ISRO units to avoid approving resignations of scientists and engineers associated with strategically important missions without detailed review. The move follows the resignation of LVM3 Project Director Victor Joseph and other senior officials linked to the Gaganyaan programme. Union Minister Jitendra Singh described the resignations as an administrative matter, while ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan assured that ongoing missions would not be affected, stating that responsibilities would be reassigned wherever necessary. Industry observers believe growing opportunities in India's expanding private space sector may be contributing to the trend.