India tightens Isro scientist exit rules amid reported exodus from key space missions

Representative image BENGALURU: The department of space (DoS) has stepped in to curb a recent wave of resignations from Isro’s flagship programmes, tightening rules on voluntary retirement and resignations by scientists working on Gaganyaan and other critical missions through a fresh internal memorandum dated July 14. While DoS hasn’t disclosed the scale of departures, multiple Isro sources told TOI that it was substantial enough — between 100 and 120 at least — to trigger the intervention. “Around 80 people have The Department of Space has tightened rules for resignations from Isro scientists on critical missions like Gaganyaan. A new directive requires all voluntary retirement or resignation requests from Group 'A' personnel to be approved by the Department of Space, rather than being accepted directly by Isro centres. This move follows an outflow of experienced scientists, including those from LVM3 and Chandrayaan-3 projects, highlighting concerns over losing mission-specific expertise. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan programme from the Red Fort in 2018, the goal was ambitious: make India only the fourth nation to independently send humans into space. The first crewed mission was originally targeted for 2022, coinciding with the 75th year of India’s Independence. That deadline has since slipped several times, first because of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and later due to the extensive testing and certification required for a human spaceflight programme. As With about 100 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) personnel quitting the space agency in various centres across the country, the Department of Space (DoS) has issued a memorandum to curb the exodus of scientists and engineers who are working in critical missions of national importance, like the Gaganyaan . In a memorandum issued on July 14, 2026, signed by S.R. Rajashekar, Joint Secretary (Personnel), Department of Space, states, “Of late, it is noticed that there has been spate of requests