COVER STORY
India’s spacetech sector has grown from one start-up in 2014 to over 450 now. It’s time policymakers looked beyond legacy champions and backed India’s new space companies
2026 A Space Odyssey
2026 A Space Odyssey
01-september-2026
Outlook Business Magazine - 2026 A Space Odyssey
As India’s spacetech start-ups achieve new breakthroughs, the country may be laying the foundation for a homegrown industry capable of becoming a global powerhouse. However, India urgently requires policies that can aggressively incentivise and protect large-scale private investments in space technologies. Also, long-term government contracts can give start-ups the much-needed confidence and capital to explore complex technologies. The next phase of India's space growth trajectory will demand aggressive capital deployment into cutting-edge R&D, quality space-grade components, complex reusability mechanics and heavy-lift launch vehicles.
Editor's NoteIndia’s spacetech sector has grown from one start-up in 2014 to over 450 now. It’s time policymakers looked beyond legacy champions and backed India’s new space companies
COVER STORYIndia’s spacetech start-ups are making big breakthroughs and taking off after a long lull. Can they become world beaters?
INTERVIEWPawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder, Skyroot Aerospace, discusses the spacetech start-up’s journey, fundraising challenges, India’s space reforms and the future of the private space sector
COLUMNRaghu Mahajan, assistant professor, physics, ICTS Bengaluru, says India’s ambitions in AI, quantum tech, space and robotics require sustained basic-science funding, global collaboration and research-friendly institutions
INTERVIEWAwais Ahmed, co-founder of spacetech start-up Pixxel, talks about building domestic space capabilities, government demand and India’s ambition to compete in the global space industry
COLUMNPranav Pai of 3one4 Capital examines India’s spacetech rise and why scaling breakthroughs into a globally competitive industry is the next challenge
Ajay Kumar, chairman of UPSC and former defence secretary, explores how space is evolving from infrastructure and observation into intelligence and a tool for governance
INTERVIEWRohan M Ganapathy, co-founder of Bellatrix, one of India's earliest venture capital-funded spacetech start-ups, discusses why stronger domestic demand can help India’s space industry scale and capture a larger share of the global market
COLUMNAbhay Pannu, director of ‘Rocket Boys’, says much of India's space story was built on scarcity, not surplus. The sector has never been short on brilliance, but on almost everything else.
NEWS ANALYSISAs N Chandrasekaran steps down as Tata Sons chairman, attention turns to the major bets made under his tenure and whether the group will stay the course
INDEPTHIndia’s AI data centres, semiconductors and pharma hubs could drive its next growth phase but rising industrial water demand may become a critical constraint
INTERVIEWHimanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, discusses India’s water crisis, why its impact hasn’t been dramatic yet, and why the situation could worsen if we don’t change course
COLUMNClimate-change researcher Ulka Kelkar says explains how state governments can regulate AI’s hidden water footprint through clean power, transmission costs and water recycling
INTERVIEWSocial scientist and welfare economist Jean Drèze discusses India’s rich history of resistance to inequality, social movements and the country’s struggle for greater social justice
CORPORATE STRATEGISTBerger Paints has prioritised disciplined capital allocation even as rivals spend aggressively. Can its restraint translate into stronger growth and returns?
DEAL BOOKAfter decades of building fortunes in steel, power and infrastructure, Indian conglomerates are making big bets on coffee, cosmetics, groceries, jewellery and other consumer businesses
NASH EQUILIBRIAA new research paper examines why millions of women are being left behind in India’s growth story and the barriers keeping them from greater economic participation
DOWN THE AGESBL Agro, which began with mustard oil before expanding into kitchen staples, is now entering cattle-genomics research as it diversifies into agri technology
DATA DIVEExplore how Gen Z is changing India’s earning, shopping, investment and travel habits, and how AI is influencing the country’s youngest generation
BHARAT START-UPFrom a Kota coaching classroom to India’s cooling market, two friends are building affordable ACs for a country facing rising heat and demand for cooling.
India’s spacetech sector has grown from one start-up in 2014 to over 450 now. It’s time policymakers looked beyond legacy champions and backed India’s new space companies
India’s spacetech start-ups are making big breakthroughs and taking off after a long lull. Can they become world beaters?
Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder, Skyroot Aerospace, discusses the spacetech start-up’s journey, fundraising challenges, India’s space reforms and the future of the private space sector
Raghu Mahajan, assistant professor, physics, ICTS Bengaluru, says India’s ambitions in AI, quantum tech, space and robotics require sustained basic-science funding, global collaboration and research-friendly institutions
Awais Ahmed, co-founder of spacetech start-up Pixxel, talks about building domestic space capabilities, government demand and India’s ambition to compete in the global space industry
Pranav Pai of 3one4 Capital examines India’s spacetech rise and why scaling breakthroughs into a globally competitive industry is the next challenge
Ajay Kumar, chairman of UPSC and former defence secretary, explores how space is evolving from infrastructure and observation into intelligence and a tool for governance
Rohan M Ganapathy, co-founder of Bellatrix, one of India's earliest venture capital-funded spacetech start-ups, discusses why stronger domestic demand can help India’s space industry scale and capture a larger share of the global market
Abhay Pannu, director of ‘Rocket Boys’, says much of India's space story was built on scarcity, not surplus. The sector has never been short on brilliance, but on almost everything else.
As N Chandrasekaran steps down as Tata Sons chairman, attention turns to the major bets made under his tenure and whether the group will stay the course
India’s AI data centres, semiconductors and pharma hubs could drive its next growth phase but rising industrial water demand may become a critical constraint
Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, discusses India’s water crisis, why its impact hasn’t been dramatic yet, and why the situation could worsen if we don’t change course
Climate-change researcher Ulka Kelkar says explains how state governments can regulate AI’s hidden water footprint through clean power, transmission costs and water recycling
Social scientist and welfare economist Jean Drèze discusses India’s rich history of resistance to inequality, social movements and the country’s struggle for greater social justice
Berger Paints has prioritised disciplined capital allocation even as rivals spend aggressively. Can its restraint translate into stronger growth and returns?
After decades of building fortunes in steel, power and infrastructure, Indian conglomerates are making big bets on coffee, cosmetics, groceries, jewellery and other consumer businesses
A new research paper examines why millions of women are being left behind in India’s growth story and the barriers keeping them from greater economic participation
BL Agro, which began with mustard oil before expanding into kitchen staples, is now entering cattle-genomics research as it diversifies into agri technology
Explore how Gen Z is changing India’s earning, shopping, investment and travel habits, and how AI is influencing the country’s youngest generation
From a Kota coaching classroom to India’s cooling market, two friends are building affordable ACs for a country facing rising heat and demand for cooling.
Editor's Note
COVER STORY
INTERVIEW
COLUMN
INTERVIEW
COLUMN
INTERVIEW
COLUMN
NEWS ANALYSIS
INDEPTH
INTERVIEW
COLUMN
INTERVIEW
CORPORATE STRATEGIST
DEAL BOOK
NASH EQUILIBRIA
DOWN THE AGES
DATA DIVE
BHARAT START-UP