Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe)

1. Winning Consortium: A private consortium led by Bengaluru-based PixxelSpace, along with PierSight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space, has been selected to execute India’s first fully indigenous commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation. (The Indian Express, Via Satellite, pixxel.space, Reuters)

2. Financials: The consortium submitted an unprecedented zero-rupee bid, opting not to use the ₹350 crore government support offered under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Instead, it will self-fund the entire project, investing approximately ₹1,200 crore over four to five years. (The Times of India, The Economic Times)

3. Scope of the Project: The constellation will consist of 12 satellites, equipped with panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. Designed, built, launched, and operated entirely in India, these satellites aim to provide analysis-ready data and value-added services for agriculture, infrastructure planning, disaster management, climate monitoring, marine surveillance, national security, and urban development. (India Today, The Indian Express, Via Satellite, The Economic Times, The Economic Times)

4. Significance: This initiative marks a pivotal moment in India’s space sector. It demonstrates the rising maturity and confidence of private players in handling large-scale, strategic space missions. Further, it aims to reduce dependence on foreign satellite data, uphold data sovereignty, and enhance India’s role in global geospatial intelligence. (The Indian Express, The Economic Times, Via Satellite, Reuters, The Economic Times)

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1:
Which consortium won the IN-SPACe public-private partnership to build India's first indigenous commercial Earth Observation satellite constellation?
A) Astra Microwave Products-led group
B) GalaxEye Space consortium
C) PixxelSpace-led consortium with PierSight, Satsure, and Dhruva Space
D) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Answer: C
Explanation: The consortium led by PixxelSpace, with partners PierSight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space, was selected by IN-SPACe to execute the EO satellite constellation PPP project. (The Indian Express, Via Satellite, Reuters)

Question 2:
What was unique about the financial bid submitted by the winning consortium?
A) It requested double the government funding
B) It matched the government’s ₹350 crore funding offer
C) It bid zero rupees and will fully self-fund the ₹1,200 crore project
D) It bid ₹1,200 crore from the government
Answer: C
Explanation: The consortium placed an unprecedented zero-rupee bid—rejecting government support—and committed to self-fund the ₹1,200 crore project over the next years. (The Times of India, The Economic Times)

Question 3:
How many satellites are included in the Earth Observation constellation, and what types of sensors will they carry?
A) 12 satellites with only multispectral sensors
B) 10 satellites with panchromatic and radar sensors
C) 12 satellites with panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and SAR sensors
D) 15 satellites with infrared and thermal sensors
Answer: C
Explanation: The planned constellation comprises 12 satellites equipped with panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. (India Today, The Indian Express, Via Satellite, The Economic Times)

Question 4:
What are the intended applications of the satellite constellation developed by the PixxelSpace-led consortium?
A) Only defense and urban mapping
B) Education and space tourism
C) Agriculture, disaster management, climate monitoring, marine surveillance, infrastructure, urban planning, and national security
D) Human spaceflight support
Answer: C
Explanation: The satellites will serve multiple domains, including agriculture, infrastructure development, disaster response, climate change monitoring, marine surveillance, urban planning, and strategic security, offering comprehensive EO services. (The Economic Times, Via Satellite, The Economic Times)

Question 5:
What key strategic advantage does this initiative offer India’s space capabilities?
A) It transitions all space operations to foreign satellites
B) It allows complete reliance on imported data
C) It emphasizes private sector leadership, strengthens data sovereignty, and positions India globally
D) It defunds the space sector entirely
Answer: C
Explanation: By enabling private leadership, ensuring data sovereignty, and demonstrating India’s local technological capacity in advanced EO missions, the initiative strategically bolsters both national security and space sector maturity. (The Indian Express, The Economic Times, Reuters, The Economic Times)