A Bill pending before the Parliament is to encourage both the public and private sectors to participate in the space programme.
What is it?
- It is a proposed Bill to promote and regulate the space activities of India. The new Bill encourages the participation of non-governmental/private sector agencies in space activities in India under the guidance and authorisation of the government through the Department of Space.
- According to the draft, as few start-up companies in India have shown interest in space systems activities and as space activities need participation from private sector agencies, “there is an urgent need for a legal environment for orderly performance and growth of space sector.”
When, where, who?
- The draft was posted on the website of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on November 21, 2017.
Why has it been posted?
- The Bill seeks comments on the draft from stakeholders and the public. ISRO has given a month’s time to read the 20-page draft and send comments.
What does the Bill propose?
- The provisions of this Act shall apply to every citizen of India and to all sectors engaged in any space activity in India or outside India
- A non-transferable licence shall be provided by the Central Government to any person carrying out commercial space activity
- The Central Government will formulate the appropriate mechanism for licencing, eligibility criteria, and fees for licence.
- The government will maintain a register of all space objects (any object launched or intended to be launched around the earth) and develop more space activity plans for the country
- It will provide professional and technical support for commercial space activity and regulate the procedures for conduct and operation of space activity
- It will ensure safety requirements and supervise the conduct of every space activity of India and investigate any incident or accident in connection with the operation of a space activity.
- It will share details about the pricing of products created by space activity and technology with any person or any agency in a prescribed manner.
- If any person undertakes any commercial space activity without authorization they shall be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or fined more than ₹1 crore or both.
Source:TH
