"India's Contemporary Security Challenges: Operation Sindoor and the Expanding Role of Forensic Science in National Security."----ADDRESS BY BRIGADIER HEMANT MAHAJAN, YSM Meraki 4.0 – Forensic Science Week Department of Forensic Science, School of Science Sandip University, Nashik 30 September 2026

 

 

Respected Vice Chancellor, Dean, Faculty Members, Distinguished Guests, and my young friends from the Department of Forensic Science,

Good morning.

It is a great pleasure and privilege to be here today at Sandip University during "Meraki 4.0 – Forensic Science Week."

I have spent over four decades in uniform, serving in some of India's most challenging operational environments—from counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir to national security planning and military education. During these years, I have seen battles fought with guns, artillery, tanks, and missiles.

However, I have also seen battles won not by weapons alone but by evidence, analysis, intelligence, and scientific investigation.

That is where all of you come in.

When people think about national security, they imagine soldiers standing on the border, fighter aircraft in the sky, warships at sea, or missiles protecting the nation.

But very few realize that behind every successful counter-terrorist operation, every conviction of a terrorist, every exposure of a spy network, every cybercrime investigation, and every detection of fake news campaigns, there is often a forensic scientist quietly working behind the scenes.

Therefore, today's topic is:

"India's Contemporary Security Challenges: Operation Sindoor and the Expanding Role of Forensic Science in National Security."

 

The Changing Nature of Security

When I joined the Indian Army in 1975, threats largely came from identifiable enemies across the border.

Today, the situation is far more complex.

India faces:

• Terrorism
• Cross-border infiltration
• Cyber attacks
• Deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation
• Drug trafficking
• Narco-terrorism
• Radicalization through social media
• Economic warfare
• Espionage
• Information warfare
• Hybrid warfare

The battlefield is no longer limited to land, sea, and air.

Today the battlefield includes:

• Mobile phones
• Social media platforms
• Computer networks
• Financial systems
• Human minds

In this new environment, forensic science has become a frontline national-security discipline.

 

Operation Sindoor – Lessons Beyond the Battlefield

Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's determination and capability to respond decisively to terrorist threats and hostile actions.

However, after every operation comes another challenge.

Who planned the attack?

Who financed it?

Who supplied explosives?

Which communication networks were used?

Who spread propaganda?

Who created false narratives?

Who attempted to manipulate public opinion?

These questions cannot be answered by soldiers alone.

They require forensic experts.

The soldier may neutralize a terrorist.

The forensic scientist helps neutralize the entire network behind him.

 

Why Forensic Science Matters to National Security

Many students believe forensic science is limited to crime scenes and fingerprints.

That perception is outdated.

Today forensic science contributes to:

Counter-Terrorism

After a terrorist attack investigators examine:

• Explosive residues
• DNA evidence
• Ballistic signatures
• Mobile phones
• Digital devices
• GPS data

A tiny fragment recovered from a blast site can reveal an entire terrorist network.

 

Cyber Forensics

Today's terrorists and hostile intelligence agencies operate online.

Cyber forensic experts investigate:

• Hacked systems
• Encrypted communications
• Dark web activities
• Cryptocurrency transactions
• Malware attacks

The next major attack on India may begin with a keyboard rather than a rifle.

 

Social Media and Deepfake Forensics

This is an area that will directly affect your generation.

Artificial Intelligence can now create:

• Fake videos
• Fake speeches
• Fake photographs
• Fake voice recordings

Imagine a fake video appearing during a national crisis showing a senior military commander making inflammatory statements.

Within minutes it could trigger panic.

Forensic specialists are becoming the defenders of truth.

You are not merely analyzing images.

You are protecting national stability.

 

Financial and Economic Forensics

Modern terrorism requires funding.

Forensic accounting helps uncover:

• Money laundering
• Terror financing
• Hawala networks
• Illegal foreign funding

Following the money often leads investigators to the masterminds.

 

The Forensic Scientist as a National Security Professional

Many of you may not wear uniforms.

But that does not mean you cannot serve the nation.

National security today requires:

• Soldiers
• Police officers
• Intelligence professionals
• Cyber experts
• Data scientists
• Forensic specialists

Every one of them contributes to national security.

A forensic scientist who identifies a terrorist bomb-maker has contributed as much to national security as the soldier who captures him.

 

A Lesson from Counter-Insurgency Operations

During my service in Jammu & Kashmir, we often recovered seemingly insignificant items:

• A battery
• A handwritten note
• A map
• A SIM card
• A piece of wire

To an ordinary person these were useless objects.

To investigators they became critical evidence.

Many operations succeeded because someone patiently analyzed tiny clues.

National security often depends on details.

And forensic science is the science of details.

 

Humorous Forensic Anecdote No. 1

People often tell me:

"Sir, we watch crime serials. Forensic scientists solve every case in thirty minutes!"

I tell them:

"If that were true, India's police stations would be empty and forensic laboratories would be producing miracles every evening at 9 PM."

Real forensic science is not magic.

It is patience, science, and hard work.

Unfortunately, evidence does not cooperate with television schedules.

 

Humorous Anecdote No. 2

A student once asked a forensic expert:

"Sir, can fingerprints lie?"

The expert replied:

"No. But the person leaving them behind usually does!"

That is why forensic science is so powerful.

Evidence is often more reliable than human memory.

 

Humorous Anecdote No. 3

In the Army we often say:

"An officer may forget where he kept a document."

"But forensic experts will eventually discover where he touched it!"

That is why I always treat forensic scientists with great respect.

You can find things people desperately hope nobody finds.

 

Future Challenges

As you enter the profession, prepare yourselves for emerging threats:

Artificial Intelligence Forensics

Identifying AI-generated content.

Drone Forensics

Recovering information from hostile drones.

Space and Satellite Data Analysis

Using geospatial evidence.

Digital Evidence Authentication

Verifying the authenticity of images and videos.

Cognitive Warfare Investigation

Detecting organized influence operations and information manipulation.

The future forensic laboratory will look very different from today's laboratory.

It will combine:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Big Data Analytics
• Cyber Investigation
• Behavioural Analysis
• National Security Studies

 

My Message to Students

My young friends,

India is entering an era where security challenges are becoming increasingly complex.

The nation will require professionals who can think scientifically, analyze objectively, and act ethically.

Always remember:

A soldier protects the nation's borders.

A forensic scientist protects the truth.

And in national security, truth is often the most powerful weapon.

You may not stand at the Line of Control.

You may not fly a fighter aircraft.

You may not command a warship.

Yet your work may prevent a terrorist attack, expose a cyber intrusion, identify a spy, uncover a deepfake campaign, or help convict those who seek to harm our nation.

That is national service of the highest order.

 

Conclusion

As I conclude, I would like to leave you with a simple thought:

"In the 21st century, every crime scene is a source of intelligence, every digital device is a potential battlefield, every piece of evidence is a strategic asset, and every forensic scientist is a guardian of national security."

I wish all of you great success in your careers and hope many among you will contribute to making India safer, stronger, and more secure.

Thank you.

Jai Hind!

The Historic Transfer-On 10 September 2025, ISRO handed over the entire Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

 

🚀 

On 10 September 2025, ISRO handed over the entire Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) — the first time a space agency has given a complete rocket to a company. HAL won the contract worth ₹511 crore, beating two other consortia. The goal: let ISRO focus on advanced projects like Gaganyaan, while industry manages routine satellite launches.

📅 The Two-Year Timeline

HAL gets drawings, two years of joint work with ISRO engineers, and two rockets to build. After that, HAL must operate independently under a non-exclusive licence. The concern: transferring a decade of ISRO’s experience in just 24 months may be unrealistic.

✈️ Lessons from HAL’s Past

• Su-30MKI Fighters (2004–2020): HAL licence-built 222 jets with Russian kits. Indigenous content was only 13% (vs. 60% promised), and expertise failed to take root.

• Dhruv Helicopter (1984 onwards): Joint design with German engineers gave HAL genuine design capability. 👉 The difference: design knowledge sharing vs. mere assembly.

🧠 The Challenge of Tacit Knowledge

Rocket programmes rely heavily on unwritten, experiential knowledge — why a weld angle matters, or which vibration signals danger. This cannot be captured in manuals. Transfer depends on absorptive capacity — the receiving firm’s ability to understand and internalize knowledge.

🌍 Global Case Studies

1. Toyota (NUMMI Plant, USA): Success came from embedding workers in Japan and long-term collaboration. Manuals alone failed.

2. Japan (F-15J to Sixth-Gen Fighter): Used licence production as a training ladder over decades.

3. South Korea (F-16 to KF-21): Progressed step by step, co-developing with Lockheed Martin, eventually mastering radar technology.

4. NASA & SpaceX (2006 onwards): NASA placed engineers inside factories, shared decades of failure data, and stayed engaged — enabling SpaceX’s rapid success.

🔑 Common Success Factors

Across industries and countries, successful transfers required:

• Years of joint work, not months

• Sequential programmes building on each other

• Supplier presence long after handover

🇮🇳 The Open Question for India

The SSLV agreement gives HAL two years of joint work, then nothing more. ISRO spent over a decade developing SSLV, including failures and redesigns. HAL risks missing the tacit knowledge unless ISRO treats this as the first stage of a longer partnership, continuing support like NASA did with SpaceX.

🎯 Conclusion

India’s decision to transfer SSLV is strategically sound. But the two-year limit may be insufficient. For HAL to truly master rocket-building, ISRO must remain engaged beyond the initial handover — otherwise, India risks repeating past mistakes of “assembly without design.”

Algorithms: Powerful Tools for Engineering an Invisible Coup written byLt Gen Abhay Krishna, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM(G), VSM, ADC, (Retd) Former Army Commander of South Western, Eastern and Central Army Commands of Indian Army., August 2, 2026

 

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India’s young citizens are being shaped by social‑media algorithms that amplify emotion and polarisation, creating conditions for an “invisible coup” unless the state urgently regulates platforms, fixes social grievances, and builds its own powerful counter‑narratives.

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India’s Gen Z: A Vast, Always‑Online Cohort

India now has about 407 million people aged 14–29, roughly 28% of the population, forming the world’s largest youth generation and a decisive future voter base. This is the first Indian generation that has lived entirely in an internet‑saturated world, with screens and ranking systems as their main window to reality. Studies show they spend many hours daily on devices, much of it on social media, meaning algorithms now strongly influence what they see, feel and believe.

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How Algorithms Manipulate Emotion and Reality

Social‑media algorithms are optimised to maximise engagement and advertising revenue, not truth or social health. They privilege anger, fear and outrage over calm, nuanced information, turning feeds into sequences of emotional triggers rather than balanced views of reality. As a result, these platforms distort public debate, suppress inconvenient facts, and become extraordinarily efficient propaganda tools that amplify the most emotionally charged versions of any story.

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Global Evidence of Algorithmic Political Power

The article cites multiple global episodes to show how ranking systems shape real‑world politics. In the US, platform handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story raised concerns that information was “managed” under internal and external pressure, while Meta has been accused of letting its systems fuel anti‑Rohingya hate and violence in Myanmar, as later noted by UN and Amnesty investigations. Earlier, during the Arab Spring, Western militaries used sophisticated “sock puppet” software to run multiple fake personas and steer online conversations, proving that those who control ranking systems can influence the “emotional weather” of entire populations.

South Asian Flashpoints and India’s NEET Protests

Similar algorithm‑driven dynamics are now visible in South Asia, from Nepal and Bangladesh to India. In Nepal, a 2025 social‑media ban triggered a Gen Z uprising coordinated through TikTok, Discord and other platforms, where viral hashtags converted resentment into rapid street mobilisation that toppled the prime minister. In India, NEET paper leak protests were intensified by Instagram Reels, AI‑generated videos, deepfakes and influencer networks, with emotional clashes with police being algorithmically boosted, outpacing traditional media and institutional messaging.

Algorithmic Capture as a Strategic Threat

Across cases—from US controversies to Myanmar, the Arab Spring, Nepal, Bangladesh and NEET—the same pattern emerges: proprietary ranking systems drive attention based on engagement, not truth or social consequence. For India, this is particularly dangerous because these systems now sit at the centre of political life for nearly 400 million young citizens, giving corporations like Meta a quantum of soft power that no democratic government has effectively constrained. The author warns that this “algorithmic capture” of youth threatens public opinion integrity, social stability and electoral processes.

A Strategy of Control Without Crude Bans

The article argues that outright bans on platforms like Meta or Google would provoke youth resistance and heavy political costs. Instead, it recommends a gradual, indirect strategy of digital control using legal ambiguity, economic leverage, infrastructure dependence and narrative framing rather than open confrontation. The government should shape platform behaviour by tightening rules and compliance obligations instead of trying to switch social media off altogether.

Key Regulatory and Data‑Control Measures

First, the state should impose rules on platforms and intermediaries to remove content swiftly on official directions and comply with local regulations under the banners of sovereignty, public order, child safety or anti‑misinformation. Second, data localisation should be mandated, requiring user data and algorithm‑training inputs to be stored in India so that law‑enforcement and intelligence agencies can access them under national security or public‑order laws. The author suggests that step‑by‑step regulation, data rules, tax measures, audits, and licensing tied to algorithmic transparency and user‑data audits can gradually bring platforms under national control.

Learning from China, Russia and Turkey

The article urges India to study and selectively adapt models from other states already asserting strong digital sovereignty. China’s cybersecurity and data‑security laws represent a strict model, while Russia’s data localisation and Turkey’s requirements for social‑network providers are seen as softer variants. By threatening fines, ad restrictions or operational disruption, governments can force platforms to set up local data centres and compliance teams, which then become the gateway for negotiating ranking preferences, “positive energy” content quotas and down‑ranking of sensitive topics—without announcing explicit bans.

Two‑Pronged Response: Fix Grievances and Build Counter‑Algorithms

At the highest level, the author proposes a two‑pronged strategy. First, governments must proactively identify and address genuine social grievances—such as repeated exam leaks, crimes against students, perceived ideological bias in curricula, inadequate job creation and corporate exploitation of youth—because unresolved issues give foreign and hostile actors credible narratives to weaponise. Second, the state must invest in sophisticated “counter algorithms”: technology‑driven, coordinated efforts to push corrective and stabilising narratives across digital media, matching adversaries in both scale and sophistication.

Building Capacity, Oversight and Narrative Power

Implementing this strategy is difficult because it demands administrative alertness, sincerity and coordination across Union and States, while the digital domain is dominated by superpowers with guarded resources. Nonetheless, India’s strong technical talent pool can be mobilised with focused policy, dedicated resources, and institutional mechanisms for algorithmic oversight. The author also calls for taxation, periodic large‑scale audits, licensing and registration requirements, and massive production of preferred narratives through official channels and aligned influencers to counter fake videos and provocative misinformation.

Preventing an Invisible Coup Over India’s Youth

In conclusion, the article warns that algorithms already command hours of daily attention from hundreds of millions of young Indians and decide which anger or hope becomes visible and which facts are buried. This is described as “engineered consent” masquerading as convenience, allowing unelected platform owners to shape the next generation of voters, leaders and soldiers. If India fails to reclaim its information environment, an “invisible coup” could occur without any shots fired, as a whole generation grows up believing a reality curated by ranking systems serving hidden commercial or geopolitical interests—a future no sovereign nation can accept without a fight.

“How One Marine Colonel Forced AI Into America’s Wars, And What Project Maven Reveals About India”

 

 Origins of Project Maven

• Initiated in 2017 by Marine Colonel Drew Cukor after witnessing AlphaGo’s victory over a human champion.
• Inspired by the idea that human + machine collaboration outperforms humans alone.
• Aim: integrate AI into US military operations to close the gap between firepower and poor information systems.

The Problem: Data Chaos

• US forces relied on Microsoft Office tools and fragmented defence software, often unreliable in combat.
• Example: GPS reset error in Kandahar (2001) led to friendly fire casualties.
• Cukor concluded: America collected vast data but failed to use it effectively.

Building Maven

• Officially named Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team.
• Initial funding: $40.8M scavenged from Pentagon reserves.
• Recruitment: Marine reservists for grit, startups for innovation.
• Strategy: horse racing model – multiple startups competing on 90-day cycles.
• Resistance: Air Force, Marine Corps, and Google employees opposed AI weaponisation.

Industry Partnerships

• Startups like Clarifai shifted from wedding photo recognition to drone footage analysis.
• Google withdrew after employee protests; Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir stepped in.
• Palantir revived through Maven, later becoming a top defence contractor.

 Field to Learn Doctrine

• AI deployed before maturity → improved through real-world use.
• Early failures in Somalia (2017) corrected by retraining models.
• Ukraine war (2022): rapid retraining boosted accuracy, compressing the kill chain from <100 to >1,000 targets/day.
• By integrating large language models, targeting capacity increased fivefold.

Internal Resistance

• Pentagon culture resisted “broken software” deployment.
• Cukor faced investigations and reprimands, ending his career as colonel.
• His wife noted: “Every Marine learns the Corps will never love you back.”

China Factor

• Fear of losing to China drove Maven.
• China adapted US concepts, compelled tech firms to cooperate, and fielded capabilities faster (7 years vs US 16 years).
• As Cukor said: “If you want to see the cutting edge of AI, you go to Shanghai.”

Lessons for India

• Industry gap: India lacks Silicon Valley-scale AI firms; defence sector relies on DRDO, PSUs, and imported kit (“screwdriver-giri”).
• Acquisition gap: Defence Acquisition Procedure (2020) too slow; startups die between prototype and production. iDEX/ADITI funding too small (Rs 450 crore).
• Cultural gap: India’s military is risk-averse, zero-defect, unlike US willingness to field immature AI.
• Data gap: Indian military still digitising legacy paper records; fragmented and siloed.

Conclusion

• Maven shows what preconditions are needed:
• Industry base for AI.
• Procurement flexibility.
• Tolerance for failure.
• Structured, accessible data.
• India is “not yet in the room” – still building foundations before it can ask the deeper question: “Are we the best custodians of this tech?”

Palantir’s Origins and Core Idea-'why doesn't India have its own Palantir?

 

• Founded in 2003 with CIA venture arm funding.
• Built to solve intelligence failures caused by fragmented data systems (post-9/11).
• Core product: an ontology layer that integrates disparate databases into a coherent model.
• Platforms: Gotham (defence/intelligence) and Foundry (commercial/civilian use).

Founding Story and Philosophy

• Name inspired by Tolkien’s Palantíri (seeing-stones).
• Co-founders included Peter Thiel, Nathan Gettings, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Alex Karp (philosopher turned CEO).
• Early funding: $30M from Thiel + $2M from CIA’s In-Q-Tel.
• Strategy: forward-deployed engineers embedded in client organisations, not traditional sales teams.
• Karp’s leadership style: blunt, philosophical, openly moral about war and national survival.

Gotham in Action

• Used by LAPD for predictive policing (Operation LASER) → later criticised for bias.
• ICE’s FALCON system predicted worker behaviour ahead of raids.
• In Ukraine, Gotham integrates battlefield data for AI-assisted targeting.
• Pentagon’s Project Maven expanded Palantir’s role in military AI.
• Civilian contracts (e.g., NHS UK) face suspicion due to Palantir’s security-state image.

Business Model and Growth

• Revenue surged 85% YoY to $1.633B (latest filings).
• $10B, 10-year US Army contract consolidating 75 prior deals → near-permanent lock-in.
• Palantir seen as infrastructure, not just software.
• Controversy: building cross-agency citizen databases raises governance concerns.

Preconditions for Success

1. US state’s willingness to trust private contractors.
2. Tolerance for controversy in exchange for capability.
3. Patient, high-risk capital (17 years of losses before IPO).
4. Outsourcing cognitive functions (decision-making) to private vendors.

 The India Question

• India lacks a Palantir-scale defence data integrator.
• Defence innovation (iDEX) remains small-scale (Rs 500 crore budget).
• India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) (Aadhaar, UPI) shows a different model: state-owned rails, not vendor dependency.
• US chose vendor lock-in; India chose public ownership for long-term control.

 Barriers in India

• Defence data fragmentation across Army, paramilitary, police, and agencies.
• Procurement: project-based tenders favour low-risk bidders.
• Weak vendor qualification and oversight → history of defective components.
• Cultural mistrust between state and private sector.

What Needs Fixing

• Procurement trust: long-term enterprise agreements, accountability, rigorous qualification.
• Capital: India lacks an In-Q-Tel equivalent; needs sovereign VC-style fund (NIIF/SIDBI could evolve).
• Mission orientation: India’s top engineers prefer consumer internet/SaaS over defence-tech due to slow payments and opaque rules.

 Conclusion

• Palantir thrived because the US tolerated dependency on private vendors for speed and capability.
• India’s model prioritises sovereign control of digital infrastructure.
• For India to build Palantir-like defence capability, it must reform procurement, capital funding, and trust in private vendors.
• Without these, India’s defence-tech ecosystem will remain fragmented and underpowered.

India's New Leap in the Space Sector: Vikram-1, the Exit of ISRO Scientists, and Future Challenges Introduction

Two significant developments have recently taken place in India's space sector. The first is the successful launch of the Vikram-1 rocket, developed by the Indian private startup Skyroot Aerospace, and the second is the discussion surrounding the departure of nearly 120 scientists from ISRO. These developments have sparked a broader debate about the current state of India's space sector, as well as its future direction, opportunities, and challenges.

Skyroot Aerospace was founded and is led by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka.

 

Vikram-1: A Historic Milestone for India's Private Space Sector

The successful launch of the Vikram-1 rocket, developed by Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace, established in 2018, marks the beginning of a new era in India's space industry. Remarkably, the average age of the scientists and engineers behind this project was only 20 to 25 years, highlighting the capabilities, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of India's younger generation.

Today, more than 400 startups are actively working in India's space technology sector. This clearly indicates the emergence of a broad space ecosystem extending well beyond ISRO.

 

Space Technology: The Essential Infrastructure of the Future

A key point raised during discussions was that just as the internet has become an indispensable part of daily life, space technology will become a fundamental necessity in the future.

Weather forecasting, agricultural planning, defence, education, telecommunications, disaster management, and navigation all depend heavily on satellite technology. Therefore, space research is no longer merely a matter of national prestige; it is a cornerstone of national development.

 

Departure of 120 ISRO Scientists: Crisis or Natural Evolution?

The news of approximately 120 scientists leaving ISRO attracted considerable attention. However, rather than viewing it solely as a crisis, it should also be seen as a natural process within a growing industry.

Higher salaries, better research facilities, faster decision-making processes, and greater opportunities in the private sector have encouraged many scientists to join private companies. Such talent migration is common in technology and research sectors worldwide.

While this may cause temporary delays in certain projects, there is no reason to conclude that it poses a serious threat to India's overall space programme.

 

India's Position in the Global Space Race

India aims to conduct approximately 13 launches annually. In comparison:

• China conducts around 100 launches per year.
• The United States conducts more than 200 launches annually.

As India emerges as the world's fourth-largest economy, a corresponding increase in investments and launch capabilities in the space sector is both expected and necessary.

 

America's Success and the Role of Private Enterprise

The success of the United States in space is not driven solely by NASA. Private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab have played a transformative role.

Similarly, India is witnessing the rise of companies such as Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, and GalaxEye.

As a result, ISRO's role is gradually evolving from being the country's sole space organisation to becoming a mentor, enabler, and regulator of a broader space ecosystem.

 

Reusable Rockets and Declining Launch Costs

Reusable rocket technology is dramatically reducing the cost of launching satellites.

• A few years ago, sending one kilogram of payload into orbit cost approximately $55,000.
• Today, that cost has fallen to only a few thousand dollars.
• In the coming decade, it may fall below $100 per kilogram.

This trend is likely to accelerate the commercialisation of space activities worldwide.

 

Major Challenges Before ISRO

1. Retaining Talent

ISRO now faces competition from world-class private companies. It must improve compensation, research facilities, and career opportunities to retain top talent.

2. Bureaucratic Delays

Unnecessary administrative interference in scientific decision-making needs to be minimized. Research projects often face delays during approval processes.

3. Lack of Succession Planning

ISRO must ensure that trained replacements are available for scientists occupying critical positions.

4. Insufficient Research Investment

India's annual space budget is approximately $1.6 billion. In comparison:

• China: Approximately $20 billion
• United States: More than $25 billion

The funding gap remains substantial.

 

The Need to Develop a Scientific Culture

Scientists in India often do not receive the level of social recognition accorded to cricketers or film stars.

There is a need for successful missions such as Vikram-1 to be discussed widely in schools and universities, inspiring students to pursue careers in science and technology. Scientific achievements should become a matter of national pride and public celebration.

 

The Future Space Economy

According to experts, the next decade will witness rapid growth in:

• Space tourism
• Space-based manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical research in space
• Satellite internet services
• Lunar and Martian industries

The convergence of space technology and the internet is expected to form the foundation of the next global economic revolution.

 

The Way Forward for India

To accelerate the growth of India's space sector, the following measures are essential:

1. Significantly increase funding for space research.
2. Improve salaries, incentives, and facilities for scientists.
3. Reduce bureaucratic hurdles in decision-making.
4. Encourage greater participation by private industry.
5. Expand science and technology education.
6. Strengthen the culture of research and innovation.
7. Enhance national recognition and appreciation of scientists.

 

Conclusion

The success of Vikram-1 is not merely the achievement of a startup; it marks the beginning of a new era in India's space journey. While the departure of some ISRO scientists is a matter of concern, it is also a reflection of increasing competition and the expansion of India's space industry.

India's future in space will not depend solely on ISRO. The combined efforts of ISRO, private enterprises, startups, research institutions, and young scientists can transform India into a global space power. Vikram-1 represents the first significant step in that direction, and the coming decade is likely to be decisive for India's emergence as a leading space-faring nation

भारताच्या अंतराळ क्षेत्रातील नवी झेप : विक्रम-1, इस्रोतील वैज्ञानिकांचे निर्गमन आणि भविष्यातील आव्हाने

 

प्रस्तावना

भारताच्या अंतराळ क्षेत्रात अलीकडे दोन महत्त्वाच्या घटना घडल्या. पहिली म्हणजे स्कायरूट एरोस्पेस या भारतीय खाजगी स्टार्टअपने विकसित केलेल्या विक्रम-1 रॉकेटचे यशस्वी प्रक्षेपण, तर दुसरी म्हणजे इस्रोमधील सुमारे 120 वैज्ञानिकांनी संस्थेतून बाहेर पडल्याची चर्चा. या दोन्ही घटनांनी भारतीय अंतराळ क्षेत्राच्या वर्तमान स्थितीबरोबरच भविष्यातील दिशा, संधी आणि आव्हाने यांबाबत व्यापक चर्चा सुरू केली आहे.

स्कायरूट एरोस्पेसची स्थापना इस्रोचे माजी शास्त्रज्ञ पवन कुमार चंदना आणि नागा भरत डाका यांनी केली असून, कंपनीचे नेतृत्वही तेच करत आहेत

 

विक्रम-1 : भारतीय खाजगी अंतराळ क्षेत्राचा ऐतिहासिक टप्पा

हैदराबादस्थित स्कायरूट एरोस्पेस या 2018 मध्ये स्थापन झालेल्या स्टार्टअपने विकसित केलेल्या विक्रम-1 रॉकेटच्या यशस्वी प्रक्षेपणाने भारतीय अंतराळ क्षेत्रात नवे पर्व सुरू झाले आहे. विशेष म्हणजे या प्रकल्पामागील वैज्ञानिकांची सरासरी वयोमर्यादा 20 ते 25 वर्षे इतकी होती. यामुळे भारतातील नव्या पिढीची वैज्ञानिक क्षमता आणि नवोन्मेषाची ताकद अधोरेखित झाली.

आज भारतात सुमारे 400 हून अधिक स्टार्टअप्स अंतराळ तंत्रज्ञान क्षेत्रात कार्यरत आहेत. यामुळे इस्रोच्या पलीकडे एक व्यापक अंतराळ उद्योग परिसंस्था (Space Ecosystem) विकसित होत असल्याचे स्पष्ट होते.

 

अंतराळ तंत्रज्ञान : भविष्यातील मूलभूत पायाभूत सुविधा

चर्चेत असा मुद्दा मांडण्यात आला की, जसे आज इंटरनेट आपल्या दैनंदिन जीवनाचा अविभाज्य भाग बनले आहे, तसेच आगामी काळात अंतराळ तंत्रज्ञानही मूलभूत गरज ठरणार आहे.

हवामान अंदाज, कृषी नियोजन, संरक्षण, शिक्षण, दूरसंचार, आपत्ती व्यवस्थापन आणि नेव्हिगेशन यांसारख्या सर्व क्षेत्रांचा पाया उपग्रह तंत्रज्ञानावर आधारित आहे. त्यामुळे अंतराळ संशोधन हा केवळ प्रतिष्ठेचा विषय नसून राष्ट्रीय विकासाचा आधारस्तंभ आहे.

 

इस्रोतील 120 वैज्ञानिकांचे निर्गमन : संकट की स्वाभाविक प्रक्रिया?

इस्रोमधून 120 वैज्ञानिक बाहेर पडल्याची बातमी मोठ्या प्रमाणावर चर्चेत आली. तथापि, याकडे फक्त संकट म्हणून पाहण्याऐवजी उद्योग क्षेत्रातील नैसर्गिक प्रक्रिया म्हणूनही पाहणे आवश्यक आहे.

खाजगी क्षेत्रात अधिक वेतन, चांगल्या संशोधन सुविधा, जलद निर्णय प्रक्रिया आणि अधिक संधी उपलब्ध असल्यामुळे अनेक वैज्ञानिकांनी खाजगी कंपन्यांचा मार्ग स्वीकारला. जगभरातील तंत्रज्ञान आणि संशोधन क्षेत्रात अशा प्रकारचे "Talent Migration" सामान्य मानले जाते.

यामुळे काही प्रकल्पांना तात्पुरता विलंब होऊ शकतो, परंतु ही घटना संपूर्ण अंतराळ कार्यक्रमासाठी घातक आहे असे मानण्याचे कारण नाही.

 

जागतिक स्पर्धेत भारताची स्थिती

भारत दरवर्षी सुमारे 13 प्रक्षेपणे करण्याचे उद्दिष्ट ठेवत आहे. याउलट:

• चीन दरवर्षी सुमारे 100 प्रक्षेपणे करतो.
• अमेरिका दरवर्षी 200 पेक्षा अधिक प्रक्षेपणे करते.

भारत जगातील चौथी सर्वात मोठी अर्थव्यवस्था बनत असताना अंतराळ संशोधनातील गुंतवणूक आणि प्रक्षेपण क्षमता यामध्येही तितकीच वाढ अपेक्षित आहे.

 

अमेरिकेचे यश आणि खाजगी क्षेत्राची भूमिका

अमेरिकेच्या यशामागे केवळ नासा नसून SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab यांसारख्या खाजगी कंपन्यांची महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका आहे. भारतातही स्कायरूट, अग्निकुल, पिक्सेल, ध्रुव स्पेस, गॅलेक्सआय यांसारख्या कंपन्या उदयास येत आहेत.

यामुळे इस्रोची भूमिका आता "एकमेव अंतराळ संस्था" अशी न राहता "मार्गदर्शक आणि नियामक संस्था" अशी होत आहे.

 

रियुजेबल रॉकेट्स आणि घटणारा खर्च

रियुजेबल रॉकेट्समुळे उपग्रह प्रक्षेपणाचा खर्च झपाट्याने कमी होत आहे.

• काही वर्षांपूर्वी 1 किलो उपग्रह कक्षेत पाठविण्याचा खर्च सुमारे 55,000 डॉलर होता.
• तो आज हजारो डॉलरपर्यंत खाली आला आहे.
• पुढील दशकात तो 100 डॉलर प्रति किलोपेक्षाही कमी होऊ शकतो.

यामुळे अंतराळ क्षेत्राचे व्यापारीकरण (Commercialisation) मोठ्या प्रमाणावर वाढण्याची शक्यता आहे.

 

इस्रोसमोरील प्रमुख आव्हाने

1. प्रतिभावान मनुष्यबळ टिकवणे

इस्रोला आता जागतिक दर्जाच्या खाजगी कंपन्यांशी स्पर्धा करावी लागत आहे. त्यामुळे वेतन, संशोधन सुविधा आणि करिअर संधी सुधारण्याची गरज आहे.

2. लालफितीशाही

वैज्ञानिक निर्णय प्रक्रियेत अनावश्यक प्रशासकीय हस्तक्षेप कमी करणे आवश्यक आहे. अनेक वेळा संशोधन प्रकल्प मंजुरीच्या प्रक्रियेतच अडकतात.

3. सक्सेशन प्लॅनिंगचा अभाव

महत्त्वाच्या पदांवर काम करणाऱ्या वैज्ञानिकांच्या जागी पर्यायी मनुष्यबळ तयार ठेवण्याची आवश्यकता आहे.

4. संशोधनावरील अपुरी गुंतवणूक

भारताचे अंतराळ संशोधन बजेट सुमारे 1.6 अब्ज डॉलर आहे. तुलना करता:

• चीन : सुमारे 20 अब्ज डॉलर
• अमेरिका : 25 अब्ज डॉलरपेक्षा अधिक

 

वैज्ञानिक संस्कृती विकसित करण्याची गरज

भारतात वैज्ञानिकांच्या कार्याला अपेक्षित सामाजिक मान्यता मिळत नाही. क्रिकेटपटू किंवा चित्रपट कलाकारांच्या तुलनेत शास्त्रज्ञांना समाजात कमी प्रसिद्धी मिळते.

विक्रम-1 सारख्या यशस्वी मोहिमांबद्दल शाळा आणि महाविद्यालयांमध्ये चर्चा व्हावी, विद्यार्थ्यांमध्ये विज्ञानाबद्दल आकर्षण निर्माण व्हावे आणि वैज्ञानिक यशाचे सार्वजनिक साजरीकरण व्हावे, अशी गरज व्यक्त करण्यात आली.

 

भविष्यातील अंतराळ अर्थव्यवस्था

तज्ज्ञांच्या मते, पुढील दशकात:

• अंतराळ पर्यटन (Space Tourism)
• अवकाशातील उत्पादन (Space Manufacturing)
• औषधनिर्मिती संशोधन
• उपग्रह इंटरनेट सेवा
• चंद्र आणि मंगळाशी संबंधित उद्योग

यामध्ये मोठ्या प्रमाणावर वाढ होणार आहे.

स्पेस आणि इंटरनेट तंत्रज्ञान यांचा संगम भविष्यातील नव्या अर्थव्यवस्थेचा पाया ठरेल.

 

भारतासाठी पुढील मार्ग

भारतीय अंतराळ क्षेत्राच्या वेगवान विकासासाठी खालील उपाय आवश्यक आहेत:

1. अंतराळ संशोधनासाठी मोठ्या प्रमाणावर निधी वाढवणे.
2. वैज्ञानिकांचे वेतन आणि सुविधा सुधारणा.
3. निर्णय प्रक्रियेत लालफितीशाही कमी करणे.
4. खाजगी क्षेत्राला अधिक प्रोत्साहन देणे.
5. विज्ञान शिक्षणाचा प्रसार करणे.
6. संशोधन आणि नवोन्मेष संस्कृती बळकट करणे.
7. राष्ट्रीय स्तरावर वैज्ञानिकांचा गौरव वाढवणे.

 

निष्कर्ष

विक्रम-1 चे यश हे केवळ एका स्टार्टअपचे यश नसून भारतीय अंतराळ क्षेत्राच्या नव्या युगाची सुरुवात आहे. इस्रोमधील काही वैज्ञानिकांचे निर्गमन ही चिंतेची बाब असली तरी ती वाढत्या स्पर्धेचे आणि विस्तारत चाललेल्या अंतराळ उद्योगाचे लक्षण आहे.

भारताचे भविष्य केवळ इस्रोच्या खांद्यावर अवलंबून राहणार नाही. इस्रो, खाजगी उद्योग, स्टार्टअप्स, संशोधन संस्था आणि तरुण वैज्ञानिक यांचे एकत्रित प्रयत्न भारताला जागतिक अंतराळ महासत्ता बनवू शकतात. विक्रम-1 ने या दिशेने पहिले महत्त्वपूर्ण पाऊल टाकले असून, आगामी दशक भारताच्या अंतराळ प्रवासासाठी निर्णायक ठरणार आहे.