admin 
Yes – ISRO scientists are still human beings who can quit — but it has become a lot tougher. The Department of Space has tightened ISRO resignation rules with the approval of the chairperson for the centralisation of the procedure for the resignation of senior scientists involved in flagship missions such as Gaganyaan as of July 2026. More than 100 people are said to have joined the burgeoning space industry in India’s private sector, prompting the government to guard key national initiatives. Everything you need to know about what has changed, who it will affect and what it means for scientists looking to go into private aerospace.
Quick Facts: ISRO Resignation Rules at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| Policy updated | July 14, 2026 |
| Issued by | Department of Space (DoS) |
| Who is affected | Scientific/ technical staff of group ‘A’. |
| Key missions covered | The Gaganyaan mission, the fourth Chandrayaan mission, the Bharatiya Anna Sanitans and Mangalyaan-2. |
| Old approval authority | ISRO centre directors |
| New approval authority | Department of Space (centralised) |
| Those scientists who fled (recently) | 100+ personnel |
| India’s vibrant startups in the space sector | 400+ |
| Investment in private space increased | ~$500 million |
Why Did ISRO Tighten Its Resignation Rules?
India’s space aspirations are on the rise along with the escape.
With the liberalization of the aerospace sector for private participation from 2020 and the implementation of India’s space policy from 2023, there has been a creation of an active aerospace industry. Start-ups in satellite technology, rocket engineering, and space data services are now actively seeking scientists to join — ISRO’s experienced scientists are a perfect fit.
The result? It is reported that more than 100 members of ISRO have left their jobs in the past few months. The largest number of people left the UR Rao satellite centre in Bengaluru and the Vikram Sarabhai space centre in Thiruvananthapuram. A notable resigner was the former Project Director of the LVM3 launch vehicle programme, who had been leading the project for more than a year until early 2026.
Gaganyaan — India’s maiden human spaceflight programme — is yet to become operational, and two consecutive PSLV failures have come as a strain on the operational schedule, so the DSpace has opted for a talent fix.
What Exactly Changed? The New ISRO Resignation Rules Explained
In 2020, ISRO centre directors were given permission to approve resignations and voluntary retirement of Group A scientific staff before July 2026.
No longer is that the situation.
The ISRO resignation guidelines are relaxed from the July 14th Memo, which reads:
- All routine approvals are put on hold for scientific and technical staff, who are assigned to Gaganyaan and other strategic missions, in Group ‘A’.
- The requests should be made to the Department of Space with a recommendation from the respective centre director.
- The decisions are made by the DoS and not the person in the centre.
It applies to the personnel working in the major ISRO centres, such as URSC, VSSC, SDSC, LPSC, SAC, NRSC, ISTRAC and Master Control Facility.
Who Is Affected by the New Policy?
The impact is not the same for one ISRO employee as for another. The tougher ISRO resignation norms apply to:
- Scientific and technical staff of (Group ‘A’)
- Employees directly working on Gaganyaan and other critical missions across the country.
- The above-mentioned staff from major ISRO centres under the DoS directive
The new restrictions do not specifically apply to scientists who work on non-strategic or administrative projects, but they do have an overall “chilling effect” on easy exits because of centralised oversight.
Can Former ISRO Scientists Join Private Space Companies?
This is where things get complicated.
No general, publicly available blanket non-compete rules exist that would preclude former ISRO employees from working for private aerospace firms. Contrast:
- It would be a long time before anyone accepted the resignation of people devoted to a great cause. Today it is even more dubious.
- They then depart, and general government service rules still apply, such as those governing the sharing of classified information.
- There is also a concept of cooling off in the more general government employment rules, which may limit ready access to jobs where insider knowledge may result in conflicts of interest.
India’s private space start-ups, from satellite companies to launch vehicle manufacturers and space data companies, have been recruiting furiously, and with former ISRO technologists offering technical credibility, it is a welcome addition for start-ups. The truth is that many scientists are leaving academic employment for the private sector, and these new regulations make it slower to get out, rather than slower to get there.
ISRO Resignation Rules vs. Standard Government Service Rules
| Feature | Standard Govt. Rules | ISRO (Pre-July 2026) | ISRO (Post-July 2026) |
| Resignation approval | Department head | Centre director | Department of Space |
| Cooling-off period | Varies by role | Not explicitly defined | Under DoS review |
| Non-compete restrictions | Limited | Not formally enforced | Under consideration |
| Scope of restriction | Broad | Group A, SG level | Group A – Strategic missions |
| Private sector transition | Generally permitted | Generally permitted | Case-by-case DoS decision |
India’s Private Space Boom: Why Scientists Are Leaving
The ‘pull factors’ are important. India now has more than 400 registered space startups, and the industry has received close to $500 million in investment, of which close to $150 million was received in 2025 only. The home-grown companies are creating satellites, sub-orbital rockets and bidding for commercial launch contracts.
For an old-timer at ISRO, it implies:
- Better pay from well-financed startups
- Growth of jobs in a less hierarchical workplace
- Ownership in businesses that could be worth many times more in the near future
- The opportunity to do commercial missions in a short time frame
The irony is that neither can be denied, as the same policy scenario that led to this private space ecosystem is also the same policy environment that caused ISRO’s talent drain in 2020 and 2023 with the liberalisation and the Space Policy of 2023, respectively.
ISRO’s Strategic Priorities That Depend on Retaining Talent
The rules for the ISRO resignation have been tightened because such missions can’t afford disruption:
- Gaganyaan is India’s first human space mission, a proud project for the country.
- The planned lunar sample return mission, Chandrayaan-4, is based on Chandrayaan-3.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) – India’s future space station in orbit.
- The upcoming Mars orbiter Mangalyaan-2 is the successor to Mangalyaan.
When experienced engineers walk out the door during the project, that’s not only a problem for timelines, but it could mean mission failure, as happened two times recently with PSLV anomalies that highlighted the importance of institutional knowledge.
More Stories Worth Reading
Why Are Chandrayaan Workers Unpaid?
Find out what’s behind the salary concerns affecting mission workers.
Which Indian Startups Lead Innovation?
Browse the fastest-growing startups transforming India’s business landscape.
Which Government Jobs Pay Best?
Check out the highest-paying government careers and their key benefits.
Why Are Karōshi Claims Rising?
Learn how overtime can impact workers and compensation rights in Japan.
How Can MYFutureJobs Boost Careers?
Get to know the platform that helps job seekers find opportunities faster.
