Why ISRO has tightened resignation rules for scientists

India's space agency, ISRO, is facing an unusual problem — it cannot hold on to its scientists. A growing number of researchers and engineers are leaving, and the government has responded by making it significantly harder for them to resign.

The Department of Space, which oversees ISRO, is grappling with its highest vacancy rate in 25 years. Nearly three out of every ten sanctioned posts are lying empty. At a time when India is pushing ambitious missions — the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, lunar exploration, and a planned space station — the exodus has become a strategic concern.

Why scientists are leaving

The immediate trigger is the booming private space sector in India. Over the past three years, the government opened up space to private players. Startups and established firms now offer salaries and stock options that ISRO, bound by central government pay scales, cannot match.

Reports suggest roughly 100 ISRO scientists have quit or opted for early retirement in recent months. Many have moved to companies like Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, and Pixxel, which are building launch vehicles and satellites. Some have joined multinational firms setting up research units in India.

One departing scientist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the decision was purely financial. 'I loved the work at ISRO. But I have a family. The private sector offers three times the salary and faster promotions.'

New restrictions on resignations

In response, the Centre has directed ISRO to not grant routine approvals for resignations from staff assigned to the Gaganyaan mission. This is the first time such a blanket restriction has been imposed on a specific programme.

The directive effectively means scientists working on India's first human spaceflight cannot resign unless the government specifically clears it. Officials argue that replacing a senior engineer mid-mission is risky and affects timelines. ISRO chairman S. Somanath had earlier acknowledged the challenge, saying the agency needs to create better retention mechanisms.

Critics, however, see the move as a short-term fix. 'You cannot lock people in. You have to make them want to stay,' said a former ISRO official. The tighter exit rules also apply to senior scientists in key divisions, though the exact categories remain unspecified.

How NASA faced the same problem

The situation is not unique to India. In the 1980s, NASA lost hundreds of engineers to private aerospace firms after the Space Shuttle programme matured. The US space agency responded by creating the Commercial Crew Programme, which funded private companies to build crew vehicles while keeping top talent within NASA by offering research opportunities and better pay.

India is now taking a similar path. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is facilitating private participation. But the side effect — brain drain — is proving harder to manage.

Experts argue ISRO needs more than restrictions. Competitive salaries, faster promotions, and a clear career path for scientists working on long-duration missions are essential. A parliamentary committee recently noted that ISRO's attrition rate has doubled in five years and recommended urgent reforms.

What happens next depends on whether the government treats the issue as a personnel problem or a strategic one. The Gaganyaan mission has a deadline of 2025. If more scientists leave, that deadline could slip. For now, the resignation queue is getting longer, but the exit door just got narrower.