₹1,000 Crore Space Fund Officially Launched: India's Startup Revolution Begins!

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd (SVCL) have signed an agreement to officially begin operations for a ₹1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund dedicated to the Indian space sector. This fund, approved by the Central government in October 2024 and with SIDBI appointed as the Fund Manager in March 2025, received its final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on October 31, 2025. The fund aims to deploy capital over five years, supporting startups across various domains including launch technologies, satellites, in-space services, and downstream applications.

Lochan Sehra from IN-SPACe highlighted the fund's role in enabling private space sector growth by providing financial runway for testing ideas and scaling innovations. Arup Kumar of SVCL stated SIDBI's commitment to empowering deep-tech entrepreneurs, emphasizing the space sector's potential for national growth and India's emergence as a space power. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, also expressed support for the initiative.

Impact: This initiative is expected to significantly boost innovation and growth within India's burgeoning private space sector, potentially leading to the development of new technologies and companies that could list in the future. It strengthens India's position in the global space economy. Rating: 8/10

Difficult Terms Explained: Venture Capital Fund: A pooled investment fund that raises capital from institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals to invest in startups and small businesses with high growth potential. Operationalise: To make something functional or active. Deep-tech: Refers to startups or companies focused on developing technologically advanced products or services based on significant scientific or engineering innovations. Frontier Technology: Emerging technologies that are expected to have a large impact on society and the economy in the future, such as AI, quantum computing, and advanced space systems.