India Pushes for Enhanced Influence in Global Space Governance Standards

India Seeks Greater Influence in Global Space Industry Standards

India is seeking a larger role in shaping international norms for the fast-growing space industry, as senior government officials and global space standards experts gathered in New Delhi for a key ISO meeting. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organised the 35th Plenary and Working Groups meetings of ISO's Technical Committee 20/Subcommittee 14 on Space Systems and Operations, drawing 131 international delegates from 13 countries.

The meeting, which took place in New Delhi, brought together representatives from national standards bodies, space agencies, industry, and academia. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said India stood "at the forefront of global space transformation", citing policy reforms and the creation of IN-SPACe, a government body set up to promote private sector participation in the country's space sector.

BIS Director General Sanjay Garg highlighted the organisation's efforts to align Indian standards with international frameworks, providing domestic experts with direct access to the global standardisation process. The New Delhi venue allowed Indian experts to engage directly with their international counterparts, facilitating the development of harmonised standards.

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The subcommittee develops international standards covering the full lifecycle of space systems, from design and production through launch and operations, with a focus on safety, interoperability, and sustainability.

The meeting also addressed emerging priorities such as space debris mitigation and long-term sustainability of orbital operations, areas where India has sought a more active international role. IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka stressed that robust standards were critical to enabling innovation and integrating India into the global space economy.