On July 14, 2026, the Department of Space released an internal letter tightening regulations on the voluntary retirement and resignation of scientists affiliated with the Indian Space Research Organization. The order includes people associated with missions like Gaganyaan and applies to Group A scientific and technical staff up to the Scientist/Engineer-SG level.
A 2020 administrative arrangement that permitted directors of specific ISRO centers to approve petitions for voluntary retirement and resignation is reversed by the current rule. According to the updated process, all applications must be referred to the Department of Space for a final decision, and center directors cannot approve such requests until important projects are finished.
Scientists employed by mission teams and key ISRO centers are covered by the agreement. Among the organizations connected to the rumored departures are the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and the U R Rao Satellite Center. Aditya Rallapalli, the Chandrayaan-3 project manager for simulations, and Victor Joseph, the LVM-3 project director from VSSC and the SpaDeX project director from URSC, are among the individuals named.
ISRO has 1,636 scientific and technical vacancies compared to a sanctioned strength of 14,108, according to government data presented to Parliament in February 2026. The term “spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation” is used in the memorandum to refer to Group A scientific and technical employees involved in initiatives of national significance.
According to ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, the organization can handle resignations and redistribute duties when scientists depart. In recent years, India’s commercial space industry has grown and started to play a role in the migration of scientists.
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