Space To Take Centre Stage In Lok Sabha: MPs Question Govt On Topics Ranging From NavIC To Kulasekarapattinam Space Port

The Lok Sabha session of 20 August, Wednesday, will see a packed concentration of questions centred on India’s expanding space ambitions by various Members of Parliament.

Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former ISRO scientist shared a list of questions on X, from navigation systems to spaceports and private sector innovation, where MPs have pressed the government for clarity on several high-profile initiatives.

Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, of the Telugu Desam Party, has sought details on public awareness of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, developed indigenously by ISRO.

His queries included whether NavIC inbuilt apps could be made mandatory on all mobile phones and how India planned to position it as a credible alternative to GPS.

Kanimozhi's questions are about the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport—the timeline for its commissioning, its comparative advantages over Sriharikota, and the type of rockets and payloads expected to be launched from the new site.

In another significant intervention, Kargil MP Mohmad Haneefa has submitted questions about space projects in Ladakh, including whether ISRO would establish a ground station or a space science education centre, given the region’s unique geographic and strategic importance.

Bengaluru Central MP, P C Mohan has requested details on public-private partnerships in the space technology sector.

His questions covered the number of space-tech startups being incubated, the creation of innovation hubs in the city, and government support for commercialising applications in agriculture, disaster management and telecom.

Meanwhile, Manish Tewari, has sought clarity on the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali, asking if its association with the Department of Space and ISRO had been discontinued, and what measures were being taken to retain ISRO-linked projects and scientific talent.

Also Read: NavIC: How India's Alternative To GPS Is Hanging By A Thread