Legal Architecture of India’s Space Sector: An Evaluation and Proposed Reforms

Dasgupta, Upasana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0591-0449 (2026) Legal Architecture of India’s Space Sector: An Evaluation and Proposed Reforms. Indian Journal of Law and Technology, 22 (1): 4. ISSN 0973-0362

[thumbnail of Legal Architecture of India’s Space Sector.pdf]
Preview
Text
Legal Architecture of India’s Space Sector.pdf - Published Version

Download (721kB) | Preview

Abstract

There is a pressing need for a national space legislation in India, in light of rapid expansion of Indian space industry and increased private participation since the introduction of space reforms in 2020. The inherent dual-use nature of space technology and the growing strategic importance of space infrastructure in geopolitics also demand regulating Indian space activities. At present, India does not have a comprehensive national legislation to govern its space activities which are currently governed by a patchwork of policies and vision statements. Notably, Indian Government released the Indian Space Policy in 2023, and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) released the norms for authorisation for certain space activities in 2024. This article is written in anticipation of India enacting a national space legislation soon, as proposed by Parliamentary Standing Committee in March 2026. This article draws insights from learnings from implementation of Indian Space Policy 2023 and other existing governing documents as well as the deliberations on the Draft Space Activities Bill, 2017, and various policy proposals to regulate space activities. The article thus evaluates the existing legal architecture of the Indian space sector and proposes a new architecture drawing upon the lessons emerging from India’s space journey, consistent with India’s international obligation, national security concerns, and vision for a thriving space economy.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Law and Legal Studies
Vol/Issue no. published date: June 2026
Depositing User: Mr. Syed Anas Ali
Date Deposited: 19 Jun 2026 06:57
Last Modified: 19 Jun 2026 07:00
Official URL: https://repository.nls.ac.in/ijlt/vol22/iss1/4
Additional Information: The author thanks the students enrolled in her elective course, “Global Space Governance – India’s Role and Challenges” (November 2025–January 2026), offered at NLSIU as Visiting Faculty, for their thoughtful questions and discussions which helped in refining several ideas explored here. The author sincerely thanks Ojashwi Pansari and Advika Ghuwalewala for proofreading this article, which improved its overall quality. Notwithstanding their invaluable assistance, the author accepts sole responsibility for any errors or omissions in this article.
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/11714

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item