ISRO Loses 100+ Scientists as Gaganyaan Mission Faces Brain Drain on July 16

India’s space agency ISRO is hemorrhaging talent. Over 100 scientists, including senior leaders of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, have resigned in recent months. The Department of Space responded on July 14 by blocking routine resignations for scientists on critical missions, requiring central approval instead. The exodus threatens India’s ambitious space goals as private startups poach experienced talent with higher salaries and faster advancement.

The scale of departures

Between 100 and 120 ISRO scientists have left in recent months, according to multiple sources. The U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru lost approximately 80 staff, while the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram saw about 20 departures. The actual number may be higher, with additional resignations still under evaluation. High-profile exits include Victor Joseph T, former LVM3 Project Director who oversaw the rocket for Gaganyaan, and Aditya Rallapalli, a key Chandrayaan-3 scientist who led simulations validating the lunar landing sequence.

Why scientists are leaving

Private space companies are the primary draw. Since 2020, India has licensed over 400 space startups backed by more than $600 million in foreign investment. Firms like Pixxel, Dhruv Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, and Bellatrix Aerospace offer higher salaries, faster promotions, and greater autonomy than ISRO. Experts say this brain drain accelerated after India opened its space sector to private players in 2020 and adopted a new space policy in 2023, creating genuine competition for talent.

Government tightens the exit door

On July 14, the Department of Space issued a memorandum reversing 2020 decentralization rules. Group A scientists and engineers working on Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, Chandrayaan-4, and other critical missions can no longer resign through their centre directors. All requests must now go directly to the Department of Space for approval. The directive applies to key centres including Satish Dhawan Space Centre, VSSC, URSC, ISRO Telemetry, and the National Remote Sensing Centre.

Risk to India’s space ambitions

Gaganyaan, scheduled for launch by late 2026 or early 2027, aims to send four Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit. The recent departures of core mission personnel threaten the timeline. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan acknowledged the resignations but downplayed concerns, saying the agency remains equipped to manage transitions. Experts warn that losing experienced scientists mid-project risks delays and quality, particularly as ISRO simultaneously pursues the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2028-2035) and other lunar missions.

Final Thoughts

ISRO’s talent drain reflects India’s opening of space to private competition. While the government can slow resignations through bureaucratic approval, it cannot force scientists to stay. The real fix requires ISRO to match private sector compensation and autonomy or accept slower mission timelines.

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