New Delhi, India | July 16, 2026

ISRO Scientist Resignations have prompted India’s Department of Space (DoS) to introduce stricter regulations governing resignations and voluntary retirement (VRS) for scientists working on strategic national missions, including the country’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.

According to a new internal memorandum issued on July 14, all resignation and VRS requests submitted by scientists associated with Gaganyaan and other nationally significant projects will now require final approval directly from the Department of Space. The move aims to prevent disruptions to critical space missions caused by the departure of experienced personnel.

The policy marks a significant administrative shift as India seeks to protect key scientific expertise amid increasing attrition within the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Why the Department of Space Changed the Rules

The decision comes after a growing number of scientists and technical experts reportedly resigned from ISRO over the past several months.

Although the Department of Space has not officially released exact figures, multiple ISRO sources cited in media reports estimate that between 100 and 120 scientists and employees have left the organization recently.

The government believes the loss of highly experienced personnel could adversely affect the timely execution of strategically important national space missions.

The internal memorandum specifically notes that resignations from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical officers, particularly those working on Gaganyaan and other national missions, have increased in recent months.

Scientists Reportedly Leaving Key ISRO Centres

According to sources familiar with the matter:

• Around 80 employees have reportedly resigned from the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).
• Approximately 20 employees have left the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Additional resignation cases are still under processing.

These two centres play vital roles in India’s satellite development, launch vehicle programs, and deep-space exploration missions.

Senior Scientists Among Those Who Resigned

Reports indicate that several experienced scientists have also left the organization.

Among them are reportedly:

• The LVM-3 Project Director from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
• The Project Director of the SpaDeX Mission from the U R Rao Satellite Centre.
• A young scientist who played an important role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

The departure of senior mission leaders has intensified concerns within India’s space establishment.

ISRO Chairman Responds

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan acknowledged that scientists have been leaving the organization but emphasized that ISRO remains prepared to manage the situation.

According to Narayanan, employee movement is a normal part of every organization. However, the new policy is intended not merely to retain employees but to ensure that no critical national project is adversely affected if key personnel leave.

He added that succession planning is already being strengthened so that qualified replacements are available whenever experienced scientists exit.

Why the Numbers Matter

At first glance, the reported resignations represent only a small percentage of ISRO’s total workforce of more than 14,600 employees.

However, officials are concerned because many of those leaving belong to highly specialized teams working on strategically important missions.

As per ISRO’s latest workforce data:

• U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC): Approximately 1,339 employees.
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC): Approximately 4,577 employees.

These facilities are among ISRO’s most critical centres responsible for satellite design, launch vehicles, spacecraft engineering, and future human spaceflight programs.

Potential Impact on Future Missions

The Department of Space believes experienced scientists are difficult to replace quickly, especially during active mission phases.

One example often cited is Chandrayaan-3, where the mission’s simulation team reportedly generated more than 25 terabytes of data through over 100,000 simulation tests to validate the lunar landing sequence.

Such specialized expertise requires years of training and mission experience, making sudden departures particularly challenging.

The government fears similar losses during the development of Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, could affect project timelines and operational continuity.

What the New Rules Say

Under the revised administrative framework:

• Resignations from scientists associated with Gaganyaan and other strategic missions will generally not be accepted during active project phases.
• Centre Directors have been advised not to approve resignation or VRS applications until mission responsibilities are completed.
• Every resignation request must now be forwarded to the Department of Space along with recommendations from the concerned Centre Director.
• The Department of Space will take the final decision on each case.

The new policy effectively centralizes the approval process for scientists working on nationally important programs.

Reversal of 2020 Delegation of Powers

The latest order also reverses an important administrative change introduced in November 2020.

Under the earlier rules, Directors of ISRO centres and unit heads had the authority to accept resignations and voluntary retirement applications from Group ‘A’ scientists up to the Scientist/Engineer-SG level.

The new memorandum withdraws those delegated powers for personnel working on Gaganyaan and other strategic national missions, restoring final authority to the Department of Space.

ISRO Has Faced Attrition Before

Scientist attrition is not entirely new for ISRO.

Previous reports indicated that nearly half of the employees recruited between 2004 and 2007 eventually left the organization.

Government data further showed that approximately 700 employees resigned from ISRO between 2012 and 2024.

While the rapid growth of India’s private space industry has created new career opportunities, officials say resignations cannot be attributed solely to private-sector expansion.

Recruitment Continues, But Experience Remains Irreplaceable

ISRO is actively recruiting new talent to strengthen its workforce.

According to the organization’s 2025–26 Annual Report:

• Recruitment for approximately 1,050 scientific, technical, and administrative positions is in the final stages.
• Around 466 project positions have been regularized.
• Nearly 460 new senior-level posts have been created following a cadre review.

Despite these recruitment efforts, the Department of Space believes retaining experienced scientists remains essential because expertise accumulated through decades of mission work cannot be replaced immediately.

The latest policy reflects the government’s determination to safeguard India’s most strategically significant space programs while ensuring continuity in mission execution.

Key Highlights

• The Department of Space has tightened resignation rules for scientists working on Gaganyaan and other strategic missions.
• Final approval for resignations and VRS applications will now rest with the Department of Space.
• Reports suggest around 100–120 ISRO personnel have resigned in recent months.
• Senior scientists from URSC and VSSC are reportedly among those who left.
• ISRO says the move is intended to protect national space missions from operational disruptions.
• Recruitment of over 1,000 new personnel is underway, but retaining experienced scientists remains a priority.