These ventures are pivoting towards a new lucrative business: defence surveillance. While state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has a generally favourable global reputation, private space startups can’t simply piggyback on Isro. Mint reported on 12 June last year that the ministry of defence (MoD) was also considering India’s private space startups for an experimental surveillance project. So far, India’s four most-funded space startups have raised over $315 million over the past five years. Private space startups can help India emerge as one of the world’s most strategically important defence suppliers globally, according to Giri.

Source: Mint January 16, 2026 03:08 UTC