The Department of Space (DoS) is responding to a notable increase in resignations from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) by implementing stricter regulations regarding voluntary retirements and resignations. A fresh memorandum, which was dated July 14, outlines directives aimed at curbing voluntary exits by scientists involved in crucial national projects, such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. The newly established rules require that all resignation requests from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel must be sent to the DoS for approval rather than being processed at Isro centres.

Significant Departures of Experienced Scientists

The rise in resignations has raised concerns within Isro, with officials noting that approximately 100 to 120 scientists have reportedly left the organisation in recent months. Sources indicate that nearly 80 of these departures occurred at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) located in Bengaluru, while around 20 have been recorded from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. Some insiders suggest that the actual number of resignations could be higher, as further cases are currently under review.

Among those who have departed are several prominent scientists, including Victor Joseph, Project Director for the LVM3 mission, and Aditya Rallapalli, who played a significant role in the successful Chandrayaan-3 project. Rallapalli was integral to the mission’s simulation team, which compiled approximately 25 terabytes of data through over 100,000 simulations, aiding in validating the spacecraft’s unprecedented lunar landing sequence.

Isro Chairman V. Narayanan has acknowledged these resignations but attempted to allay concerns, stating that the organisation is capable of managing the transitions effectively. He remarked that the departures are a natural occurrence in any organisation and assured that responsibilities would be transferred to other qualified individuals as necessary. Narayanan highlighted that while losses are felt, Isro’s resilience would enable them to continue their critical projects without significant disruption.

New Restrictions Reverse Previous Autonomy

The memorandum from the DoS underscores an increasing apprehension within Isro regarding the impact of these resignations on essential programmes. It notes a troubling trend of frequent requests for voluntary retirements and resignations among staff linked to high-profile missions, which could severely impact the implementation of national projects. This latest directive effectively retracts an administrative reform established in November 2020, which had permitted Isro centre directors to approve such requests up to the Scientist Engineer-SG level.

Under the revised regulations, centre directors are barred from accepting resignation requests until after critical missions, including Gaganyaan, are successfully concluded, and all such requests must be forwarded to the DoS for final review. While the resignations represent a fraction of Isro’s total workforce, comprising over 14,600 employees, many of those leaving are involved in flagship initiatives, which exacerbates concerns around project completion.

The challenge of replacing seasoned scientists lies not only in filling vacancies but also in recapturing the extensive experience they contributed to intricate projects like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, and SpaDeX. Although staff attrition is not a new issue within Isro, with around 700 resignations recorded between 2012 and 2024, the current wave reflects a specific urgency to retain skilled personnel.

Future Challenges for Isro

Isro’s annual report indicates that recruitment efforts for over 1,050 scientific, technical, and administrative positions are in progress alongside a restructuring initiative that aims to consolidate hundreds of project roles. However, the latest measures demonstrate a growing recognition within the Department of Space that while filling vacancies is manageable, it is far more challenging to replace the seasoned experts steering India’s foremost space enterprises as the organisation looks towards future missions, including Gaganyaan and lunar exploration efforts.

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