By Rajat Agrawal: The recent reports of rising attrition within ISRO should not become a political debate – they should spark a national conversation on how India values its most important – Scientific Talent.
Every successful mission – be it Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan or the launch of a satellite – reflects the dedication of thousands of scientists and engineers, who work tirelessly behind the scenes. When experienced scientists leave, We don’t just lose employees; but years of expertise, research, mentorship and innovation, that are almost impossible to replace.
The opening of India’s space sector to private participation in 2020 has been a landmark reform. It has encouraged innovation, attracted investment and created exciting opportunities for scientists and engineers. This is undoubtedly a positive step for the nation’s space ecosystem.
However, it also raises an important question: Are our brightest scientists finding better salaries, research facilities, career growth and working conditions in private space companies than in our Premier Public Institutions? If so, we must view this as an opportunity to strengthen institutions like ISRO, not merely as an employment trend.
India spends enormous public resources on subsidies, welfare schemes and direct cash transfers to support large sections of the population. While social welfare is an essential responsibility of the government, it has increasingly been reduced to an election-winning tool. A significant portion of these benefits often reaches undeserving beneficiaries due to vote-bank targeting, resulting in wastage of taxpayers’ money.
But, as a nation aspiring to become a global scientific and technological leader, we must invest more boldly in the people who create that future.
Even a modest rebalancing from public expenditure towards competitive compensation, world-class laboratories, advanced research infrastructure, better housing, healthcare and educational support for scientists and their families could significantly improve talent retention. Investing in science is not a cost – it is one of the highest-return investments India can make.
This is not about choosing between welfare and scientific progress – Later is inevitable. The challenge lies in striking the right balance between meeting today’s election winning stunts and building tomorrow’s technological capabilities.
India has repeatedly demonstrated that it can achieve extraordinary milestones with limited resources. Imagine what our scientists could accomplish if they were provided facilities and compensation comparable to the best in the world.
Our commitment to science should not be measured by the applause that follows a successful mission but by our ability to ensure that India’s brightest minds choose to stay, innovate and build the nation’s future from within.
