Following the departure of roughly 100 Indian Space Research Organisation staff from centers nationwide, the Department of Space has circulated a directive aimed at reducing further exits among specialists assigned to priority national programs, including Gaganyaan.
The July 14, 2026, directive, issued by Joint Secretary S.R. Rajashekar, notes a recent surge in voluntary retirement and resignation applications from Group A scientific and technical employees, including those attached to Gaganyaan and other significant initiatives. It warns that such departures are hindering progress on projects of national importance.
Directors of ISRO centers and unit heads have been instructed to withhold routine approval of these requests for personnel linked to Gaganyaan or comparable missions until the projects reach completion. Any applications, even from staff at or below the scientist or engineer SG level, must be forwarded to the department with explicit recommendations for a final ruling.
During the February 2026 parliamentary session, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reported that ISRO’s overall sanctioned strength stood at 18,142 positions, with 2,613 vacancies. Recruitment efforts are underway to fill 1,449 of those posts. Within the science and technology category, 1,636 positions remain unfilled, and hiring is advancing for 1,261 roles. The administration category shows 3,057 staff in place against a sanctioned total of 4,034.
The minister indicated an overall vacancy rate of 14.4 percent, with active recruitment addressing 8 percent of openings and processes for the remaining 5 percent still pending. Completion of current hiring rounds is expected by October 2026.
The Gaganyaan program has already slipped behind schedule. Its first uncrewed flight, originally planned for early 2026, has been postponed.
