The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is facing a significant challenge as a wave of resignations among its scientific and technical personnel has prompted a swift intervention from the Department of Space (DoS). A new internal memorandum, issued on July 14, aims to curb further exits, especially from high-priority projects such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
Tighter Controls on Departures
Sources indicate that between 100 and 120 scientists have resigned or sought voluntary retirement from ISRO, with more cases currently under review. The UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) alone saw approximately 80 departures, while the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) recorded at least 20 exits. The DoS memorandum explicitly states that resignation and voluntary retirement requests from scientists involved in Gaganyaan and other crucial missions “may not be accepted as a matter of routine.”
Instead, center directors have been instructed to refer all such requests to the Department of Space for a final decision, along with their recommendations. This directive reverses an administrative change from 2020 that had empowered ISRO center directors to approve such requests for Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel up to the scientist/engineer-SG level.
Impact on Critical Missions
While the number of departures represents a small fraction of ISRO’s total workforce of over 14,600, the concern stems from the fact that these individuals were linked to strategically important centers and projects. High-profile exits reportedly include LVM-3 project director Victor Joseph from VSSC and the SpaDeX project director from URSC, alongside a young scientist who contributed to the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
ISRO chairman V Narayanan acknowledged the departures, stating, “Yes, a lot of people go, but that’s part of every organisation. The move [memorandum] isn’t only to retain, but also to ensure that important projects don’t suffer all of a sudden. But if someone is still going, someone else will take responsibility. We’re taking care of it.”
Historical Context and Future Plans
Attrition is not a new phenomenon for ISRO. Official figures reveal that around 700 employees resigned between 2012 and 2024. An earlier report indicated that nearly half of the agency’s new recruits quit between 2004 and 2007. The current wave of resignations highlights ongoing challenges in talent retention, which are not solely attributed to the burgeoning private space sector.
To address staffing needs, ISRO’s 2025-26 annual report outlines plans for recruitment for approximately 1,050 scientific, technical, and administrative positions, which are reportedly in an advanced stage. Additionally, a cadre review approved last year has regularized 466 project posts and created about 460 higher-grade positions, signaling efforts to strengthen its workforce and maintain momentum on national space projects.