New Delhi: The Department of Space (DoS) has tightened norms governing the resignation and voluntary retirement of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists and engineers amid a surge in exits from the country’s premier space agency.
According to an official memorandum, the move comes after nearly 100 ISRO personnel from various centres across the country resigned or sought voluntary retirement, raising concerns over the continuity of critical national missions, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
The memorandum, signed by S.R. Rajashekar, Joint Secretary (Personnel), Department of Space, noted that the increasing number of resignations and voluntary retirement requests from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel had begun affecting projects of national importance.
The communication, addressed to Directors of ISRO Centres and Heads of Units, directs them not to accept, as a routine matter, requests for resignation or voluntary retirement from scientists and engineers associated with Gaganyaan and other key missions until those projects are completed.
It also states that any such requests, including those from personnel up to the rank of Scientist/Engineer-SG, must be forwarded to the Department of Space along with detailed recommendations from the respective Centre Directors or Heads of Units for a final decision.
The revised policy is aimed at ensuring that strategic space missions do not face disruptions due to the sudden departure of experienced personnel.
Responding to concerns over the growing number of exits, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan acknowledged the trend but maintained that the organisation has mechanisms in place to ensure continuity.
“Yes, a lot of people go, but that’s part of every organisation. The move isn’t only to retain, but also to ensure that important projects don’t suffer all of a sudden. If someone is still going, someone else will take responsibility. We’re taking care of it,” Narayanan said.
The new guidelines reflect the government’s focus on safeguarding India’s flagship space programmes, particularly Gaganyaan, which remains one of the country’s most significant scientific and technological missions.
