The Indian Space Research Organisation, known by its acronym ISRO, is India's national space agency, responsible for the country's space programme, satellite development, launch vehicle technology, and space-based applications ranging from communications and remote sensing to navigation and planetary exploration. It functions under the Department of Space (DoS), which reports directly to the Prime Minister of India, and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Since its formation, ISRO has grown from a modest research body launching sounding rockets to one of the world's most cost-efficient and reliable space agencies, credited with missions such as Chandrayaan-3's south-pole lunar landing, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and the Aditya-L1 solar observatory. It also operates a growing commercial and human-spaceflight portfolio through its dedicated arms, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
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ISRO At a Glance
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1969 (as ISRO); precursor INCOSPAR founded 1962 |
| Headquarters | Antariksh Bhavan, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Motto | "Space Technology in the Service of Mankind" |
| Chairman | Dr. V. Narayanan (since 14 January 2025) |
| Parent Department | Department of Space (DoS), reporting to the Prime Minister of India |
| Type | Government space agency |
| Employees | Approx. 16,000–17,000 |
| Commercial Arm | NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) |
| Promotional/Regulatory Body | Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) |
| Website | isro.gov.in |
What is ISRO?
ISRO is the primary body that designs, builds and launches India's satellites and space missions. Its mandate spans four broad areas: developing satellites and their applications, building launch vehicles and associated technologies, undertaking space science and planetary exploration, and enabling the emerging private space and commercial launch ecosystem. Alongside these operational roles, ISRO also functions as a technology incubator for India's growing base of private space start-ups such as Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, several of which use ISRO facilities, expertise or technology-transfer agreements to develop their own launch vehicles and satellites.
ISRO Established
The roots of India's space programme go back to 1962, when the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up under the Department of Atomic Energy, with physicist Vikram Sarabhai as its founding chairman. INCOSPAR was reconstituted as the Indian Space Research Organisation on 15 August 1969. In 1972, the Government of India established the Department of Space and the Space Commission, bringing ISRO under the direct administrative control of the DoS, a structure that continues today.
- 1962: Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) founded under Vikram Sarabhai.
- 1969: INCOSPAR reconstituted as ISRO.
- 1972: Department of Space and Space Commission established; ISRO placed under DoS.
- 1975: Aryabhata, India's first satellite, launched with Soviet assistance.
- 1980: Rohini, launched aboard the indigenous SLV-3, becomes India's first satellite placed into orbit by an Indian-built rocket.
ISRO Headquarters
ISRO's headquarters is located at Antariksh Bhavan in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Bengaluru also hosts several of ISRO's key centres, including the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), which designs and builds Indian satellites. Beyond Bengaluru, ISRO's work is spread across a network of specialised centres and facilities:
| Centre | Location | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|
| Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Launch vehicle design and development |
| U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Satellite design, integration and testing |
| Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) | Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh | Satellite and rocket launch site |
| Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) | Thiruvananthapuram & Bengaluru | Liquid and cryogenic rocket engines |
| Space Applications Centre (SAC) | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Remote sensing, communication payloads |
| National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) | Hyderabad, Telangana | Earth observation data reception and analysis |
| Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Space and planetary science research |
Organisational Structure
- Prime Minister of India — the Department of Space reports directly to the PM.
- Chairman, ISRO / Secretary, DoS / Chairman, Space Commission — the top executive, holding all three roles simultaneously.
- Directors — heading individual centres such as VSSC, URSC and SDSC, each responsible for a specific stage of satellite or launch vehicle work.
- Scientists/Engineers (SC to H grade) — the technical workforce responsible for design, testing, mission operations and research, recruited largely through ISRO's Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB).
Two related bodies work alongside ISRO to expand India's space ecosystem: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a government-owned company that commercialises ISRO-developed technology and manages commercial launches, and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which authorises and supports private-sector space activities.
ISRO Chairman
The Chairman of ISRO simultaneously holds the posts of Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman of the Space Commission, making it one of the most powerful science-administration roles in the Indian government. The Chairman is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), typically for a term of two years.
As of September 2026, Dr. V. Narayanan, a cryogenic propulsion expert who previously headed the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, serves as the 11th Chairman of ISRO. He assumed office on 14 January 2025, succeeding Dr. S. Somanath, who led ISRO through the Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and the Aditya-L1 solar mission. Under Dr. Narayanan, ISRO's priorities include the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 flight test, the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample-return mission, the NISAR Earth-observation satellite developed jointly with NASA, and the long-term Bharatiya Antariksh Station (India's planned space station).
| Chairman | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Dr. K. Sivan | January 2018 – January 2022 |
| Dr. S. Somanath | January 2022 – January 2025 |
| Dr. V. Narayanan | January 2025 – present |
Major Missions and Achievements
- Chandrayaan programme: Chandrayaan-3 achieved a successful soft landing near the Moon's south pole in August 2023, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to do so near the lunar south pole. Chandrayaan-4, a more ambitious lunar sample-return mission, is under development.
- Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): Made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt, in 2014.
- Aditya-L1: India's first dedicated solar observatory, studying the Sun from the L1 Lagrange point.
- Gaganyaan: India's human spaceflight programme, working towards crewed orbital missions after uncrewed test flights carrying the humanoid robot Vyommitra.
- Launch vehicles: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the heavier LVM3 form the backbone of India's launch capability, alongside the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for smaller payloads and ongoing work on a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
- NISAR: A joint radar imaging satellite mission with NASA aimed at monitoring Earth's land and ice surfaces.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India's planned indigenous space station, envisaged for the early 2030s.
What is the Latest Update from ISRO?
In early September 2026, ISRO successfully launched EOS-05, its first Earth-imaging satellite placed in geosynchronous orbit, using a GSLV rocket — the heaviest payload the GSLV has carried to date. The satellite, weighing over 2,300 kg, completed its orbit-raising manoeuvres in the following days and was confirmed to be in good health. Around the same period, ISRO also issued a public clarification addressing media speculation about reforms to the space sector and ISRO's future role within India's evolving national space ecosystem, reaffirming its position at the centre of the country's space activities even as commercial and private-sector participation expands through NSIL and IN-SPACe. Because ISRO's mission calendar and organisational updates change frequently, readers should check isro.gov.in for the most current announcements.
How To Join ISRO
ISRO recruits through several distinct channels depending on qualification level:
- Scientist/Engineer entry (Group A, Gazetted): For B.E./B.Tech, M.Sc, M.Tech and equivalent degree holders applying for the entry-level Scientist/Engineer 'SC' post.
- Technical and administrative staff entry: For diploma holders, ITI pass-outs and graduates applying for technician, technical assistant and administrative posts through ISRO's Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB).
- Apprenticeship and traineeship: Graduate, diploma and ITI apprentices are engaged for fixed-term training at individual ISRO centres.
- Research fellowships: Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Research Associate positions are offered for specific space-science and technology research projects, typically through PRL, SAC or individual centres.
ISRO Recruitment Process
The most common and widely tracked entry route — Scientist/Engineer 'SC' — follows this process:
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Notification | ICRB releases a notification specifying vacancies by discipline (commonly Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science, with occasional openings in Civil, Electrical and other branches) |
| Eligibility | First-class B.E./B.Tech or equivalent degree (typically 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10), with an upper age limit of around 28 years and standard relaxations for reserved categories |
| Shortlisting | Based on a valid GATE score in the relevant discipline, or ISRO's own Computer-Based Test (CBT) where applicable |
| Interview | Shortlisted candidates appear for a technical personal interview |
| Merit list | Final selection is based on combined weightage — commonly 50% for the GATE/written score and 50% for the interview |
| Joining | Document verification and medical examination, followed by posting to one of ISRO's centres |
ISRO typically runs one or more such recruitment cycles a year; for instance, a notification for 175 Scientist/Engineer 'SC' posts in Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science was opened for applications in late August 2026. Candidates should always verify vacancy numbers, dates and eligibility against the live notification on ISRO's official recruitment page, since drives are sometimes revised, expanded or reissued between announcement and closing.
ISRO Salary
ISRO pay follows the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) matrix, similar to other Indian government scientific and technical services.
| Grade | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Approx. Starting Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist/Engineer 'SC' (entry level) | Level 10 | ₹56,100 per month |
| Scientist/Engineer 'SD' | Level 11 | ₹67,700 per month |
| Scientist/Engineer 'SE' | Level 12 | ₹78,800 per month |
| Scientist/Engineer 'SF' / 'SG' | Level 13 / 13A | ₹1,18,500 – ₹1,31,100 per month |
| Outstanding Scientist | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 per month |
| Distinguished Scientist / Chairman (Apex Grade) | Level 15–17 | ₹2,25,000 and above (Chairman's basic pay is fixed at ₹2.5 lakh per month) |
Along with basic pay, ISRO employees receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, medical benefits, subsidised canteen facilities, Leave Travel Concession, group insurance, and coverage under the National Pension System (NPS). Including allowances, a newly joined Scientist/Engineer 'SC' in a metro posting typically takes home a gross salary of roughly ₹90,000 to ₹1,02,000 per month.
ISRO – Frequently Asked Questions
Who established ISRO in India?
ISRO traces its origins to the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), founded in 1962 under physicist Vikram Sarabhai, widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme. INCOSPAR was reconstituted as the Indian Space Research Organisation on 15 August 1969, and in 1972 it was brought under the newly formed Department of Space, which reports directly to the Prime Minister.
How to join ISRO salary?
Entry to ISRO as a Scientist/Engineer 'SC' requires a first-class B.E./B.Tech or equivalent degree and is typically based on a valid GATE score (or ISRO's own written test), followed by a personal interview, with selection through ISRO's Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB). The starting basic pay for this entry-level grade is ₹56,100 per month under Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC, which, with allowances, usually comes to a gross in-hand salary of around ₹90,000 to ₹1,02,000 per month in metro postings. Pay rises through higher scientific grades up to the apex Distinguished Scientist level.
Where is ISRO headquarters?
ISRO's headquarters is located at Antariksh Bhavan in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Its operational centres are spread across India, including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (launch site) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, and the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
What is the latest update from ISRO?
In early September 2026, ISRO successfully launched its first geosynchronous-orbit Earth-imaging satellite, EOS-05, aboard a GSLV rocket — the heaviest payload the vehicle has carried — and confirmed the satellite reached its intended orbit in good health. ISRO also issued a statement addressing speculation around space-sector reforms, reaffirming its central role in India's national space ecosystem alongside the growing private and commercial space sector. For the most current news, check isro.gov.in directly, since ISRO's mission schedule updates frequently.
