Will ISRO resignations impact Gaganyaan, other missions? Here's why e scientists are divided
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh reacted to reports about mass resignation at the Indian Space Research Organisation
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh reacted to reports about mass resignation at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and said there was “no controversy” surrounding the matter. He said on Thursday, according to India Today, “Many have gone, many have come", but the agency continues to induct new talent even as some employees leave. “ISRO has a very large workforce. As people leave, many also join," the minister reportedly said. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What factors are driving the recent mass resignations at ISRO? ⌵ The mass resignations at ISRO may be driven by better opportunities and salaries in the private sector, as well as normal employee turnover in large organizations, according to various perspectives. 2 Will the recent resignations of ISRO scientists impact the Gaganyaan mission? ⌵ While resignations can cause temporary setbacks, ISRO officials assert that the Gaganyaan mission is not stalled and that the agency has mechanisms to manage personnel changes effectively. 3 Why did the Indian government tighten exit rules for ISRO scientists? ⌵ The government tightened exit rules to ensure critical missions like Gaganyaan are not adversely affected by the sudden loss of talent, as more than 100 resignations were reported. 4 How does ISRO plan to handle the impact of scientist resignations on its missions? ⌵ ISRO aims to maintain project continuity by integrating new talent and leveraging the experience of retired and e scientists, according to officials. 5 Is high attrition among ISRO scientists a common occurrence? ⌵ High attrition is considered normal in large organizations like ISRO, where employee movements are expected, although some e scientists believe the current rate reflects broader industry changes. Also Read | Centre Tightens Exit Rules As Over 100 ISRO Scientists Quit And Retire Early Singh's statement came after sources told the Times of India that at least 100 scientists resigned from ISRO's flagship programmes.
The report claimed that the departures included key personnel like LVM-3 project Director Victor Joseph from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). "Spadex project director quit from UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). A very bright young person who was part of Chandrayaan-3 has also quit,” the source was quoted as saying. After the incident, the Department of Space issued a memorandum to major ISRO centres for tightening the rules governing the resignation and voluntary retirement of scientists and engineers working in critical missions of national importance such as the Gaganyaan Mission. Also Read | ISRO exit rules tightened amid reports of 100 scientists quitting Responding to a question about this ISRO memo, Singh said it was "for administrative reasons" and not because of any other factor. "No, that is because... that is for administrative reasons so that the decision can be taken at a much mature level," the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology told reporters, as per NDTV. Will resignation impact Gaganyaan and other ISRO missions? When asked about India's future space missions, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reportedly recalled what the space agency's former chairman Dr Somanath S had remarked. Singh was quoted by NDTV as saying, "In one of the very early meetings about 10 years back, he [Somanath] said sending up a man is easier, getting him back is equally difficult. And that's how, you know, this crew module thing started." "Now Somanath is no longer in the picture. It doesn't mean the Gaganyaan mission has stopped. It doesn't happen. And moreover, in ISRO, they work in continuity. Even retired and e scientists are very much part of the projects. So it's a different kind of work culture there," Singh added. Also Read | Isro arm raises satellite bandwidth rates 20% after a decade Meanwhile, former ISRO scientist Sandeep Ojha, in an interview with ANI, explained the project structure, and said, "There is a hierarchy involving Project Managers and Deputy Project Managers.
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