Will ISRO resignations impact Gaganyaan, other missions? Here's what ex-ISRO scientists say

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has dismissed reports of mass resignations at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), saying there was “no controversy” surrounding the matter.

Speaking on Thursday, Singh said ISRO continues to induct new talent even as some employees leave the organisation.

“Many have gone, many have come. ISRO has a very large workforce. As people leave, many also join," he said, according to India Today.

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, such as LVM-3 project Director Victor Joseph, from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

"Spadex project director quit from the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). A very bright young person who was part of Chandrayaan-3 has also quit,” the source told TOI.

After the incident, the Department of Space issued a memorandum to major ISRO centres to tighten the rules governing the resignation and voluntary retirement of scientists and engineers working on critical missions of national importance, such as the Gaganyaan Mission.

Responding to a question about this ISRO memo, Singh said it was "for administrative reasons" and not because of any other factors.

"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, the minister referred to remarks made earlier by the space agency's former chairman, Dr Somanath S.

Singh told NDTV, "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 ex-scientists are very much part of the projects. So it's a different kind of work culture there," Singh added.

Meanwhile, former ISRO scientist Sandeep Ojha, in an interview with ANI, explained the project structure. He said, “There is a hierarchy involving Project Managers and Deputy Project Managers. There is also an administrative track leading to roles like Division Head, Group Director, Deputy Director and Director.”

Ojha added, "Yes, if someone leaves a role they’ve been deeply involved with, it can certainly be a setback — albeit a temporary one. It might slow things down a bit, especially when a veteran of 20 or 25 years departs. While the team is capable enough to bridge that gap, a temporary setback is inevitable.”

Is it normal for scientists to leave ISRO in big numbers?

The latest mass resignation at ISRO centres sparked a debate about what is driving scientists to leave their jobs there.

While the minister maintained that such movements are normal in an organisation of ISRO’s size, some claimed the exodus might be due to better opportunities and salaries in the private sector.

ISRO chairman V Narayana told TOI that the space organisation was prepared to deal with the departures.

"Yes, a lot of people go, but that's part of every organisation. The move [memorandum] isn't only to retain, but also to ensure that important projects don't suffer all of a sudden. But if someone is still going, someone else will take responsibility. We're taking care of it," he was quoted as saying.

Former ISRO scientist Sandeep Ojha told ANI, “People do resign—often because the private sector is expanding and offers alternative job opportunities.”

However, ex-ISRO scientist Radha Krishna Kavuluru believed otherwise. Sharing his opinion, he posted on X, "While there is so much noise around ISRO’s recent upsurge in resignation, I for once think the numbers are very normal."

He explained that the documented attrition rate in India’s IT and manufacturing industries is 15%.

"URSC-ISRO’s widely reported resignations out of 1330 employees are 100 at an attrition rate of 7%, which is half of Indian standards," he added.

Kavuluru, who identifies himself as a former ISRO scientist, said, "This is the sign of Industry being formed and a fluid transition getting forged. We are all feeling the heat because we have very high regard for the kind of work ISRO does and industry did not exist before."

"For example, when the IT sector was in a boom and competition for talent was rampant, attrition rate was around 25-30% in the IT industry," he wrote in an X post, adding, “So the resignations are completely understandable statistical eventuality.”

"Statistically, you can’t expect 10,000 people to keep working all their lives at ISRO, now that Industry also gives you a chance to build for the country," Kavuluru said.

He asked, “If ISRO talent doesn’t come out, then who will build and de-risk the Indian industries building for space?”

Kavuluru also said, "I left ISRO a while ago and was replaced quite effectively in the system with new young talent. The process and the system will automatically take care of the resignations."

He clarified that the numbers he quoted were from the media reports, and the rest is his personal opinion.

Some others on X said the issues “today are not salaries but the work environment and our restrictive bureaucratic mindset, which is a bigger roadblock than pay.”