The Indian government has tightened resignation and voluntary retirement rules for scientists working on key space missions after more than 100 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists and engineers reportedly left the agency in recent months, raising concerns over talent retention.
According to a memorandum issued by the Department of Space, Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel involved in critical national missions, including India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, will not be allowed to seek voluntary retirement or resign until their assigned projects are completed.
The move comes amid reports that over 100 scientists and engineers have either resigned or taken voluntary retirement over the past year, creating concerns about the impact on strategically important space programmes.
The Department of Space said the new policy is aimed at ensuring continuity in major missions by retaining experienced personnel with specialised technical expertise.
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Officials said projects such as Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed space mission, require highly trained scientists whose sudden departure could delay mission timelines and affect programme execution.
The restrictions apply specifically to Group ‘A’ scientific and technical officers engaged in critical national missions. Their resignation or voluntary retirement requests will now generally be considered only after the completion of their assigned projects.
The government emphasised that the measure is intended to safeguard ongoing programmes rather than permanently restrict employee mobility.
At the same time, ISRO is expanding its workforce to address staffing requirements. The organisation is in the process of recruiting more than 1,000 new employees while creating around 460 additional senior-level scientific and technical positions to strengthen its capabilities.
India’s space programme has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, with major achievements including the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing, the Aditya-L1 solar mission and preparations for the Gaganyaan mission. However, growing opportunities in the private space sector and higher-paying technology jobs have made retaining experienced scientists increasingly challenging.
The latest policy reflects the government’s effort to balance employee mobility with the need to maintain stability in strategically important space programmes as India continues to expand its ambitions in space exploration.