The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests plans to recommend to the Centre a 50 per cent raise in the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) annual budget.

Ashwani Kumar, Chairman of the committee, addressing reporters said ISRO’s current budget is ₹5,800 crore and non-Plan allocation is ₹1,400 crore. Justifying the hike, Ashwani Kumar said it will help ISRO enhance its manpower, especially high-tech scientific manpower which help in launching more satellites. “An organisation like ISRO should not be starved of funds,” he added. “We have been informed about the need for enhancing manpower, particularly the scientific manpower of ISRO, the lack of which was disabling the organisation to optimise its potential.”

AS Kiran Kumar, ISRO Chairman said the process of hiring more scientists was being initiated. This depends on the Centre’s approval. “We need manpower for producing various satellites and also bolster our R&D set up to develop new generation satellite and launch vehicles,” he said.

Ashwani Kumar said, “The country needs to give a lot more attention to R&D and develop more satellites and launch them. There is no dearth of funds for supporting scientific establishments like ISRO which has made the country proud by putting it on the global map and among the exclusive club of nations through its huge achievements in space technology.”

He further said the sixth and seventh satellites of the Indian Navigational Satellite System would be launched by March end and that completes the constellation of seven satellites.