Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 16: In a major concern regarding talent drain, more than 120 senior scientists and technical experts have reportedly resigned from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) over the past year. The departures include key scientists associated with prestigious missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Spadex.
According to a report by the Times of India, the massive wave of resignations is driven by the booming private space sector, which offers highly lucrative salaries and attractive perks that attract top-tier talent. This has led to a noticeable talent drain within the premier national space agency.
Taking serious note of the situation, the union department of space (DoS) issued an important internal order on July 14, tightening the rules regarding the resignation and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) of its scientists. The government has taken this stringent step to ensure that the country's flagship projects, including the ambitious human spaceflight mission 'Gaganyaan', do not face any setbacks due to human resource shortages.
The report details that nearly 80 senior scientists have resigned from the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru—one of ISRO's primary hubs—while at least 20 senior scientists have stepped down from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
An official response or statement from ISRO regarding these developments is currently awaited.