Limited launch capacity, slipping timelines and rising dependence on foreign rockets reveal a widening gap between India’s space goals and its ability to deliver them
At the start of 2025, DoS and Isro appeared poised for momentum. A leadership transition had been managed without visible disruption, the mission manifest looked crowded, and the institutional confidence of an organisation shaped by six decades of calibrated risk-taking seemed intact.
But as 2026 begins, that promise remains only partially realised. This is not to suggest success was fully elusive. But measured against what was planned and publicly articulated, the gap between expectation and execution continues to demand scrutiny.
But as 2026 begins, that promise remains only partially realised. This is not to suggest success was fully elusive. But measured against what was planned and publicly articulated, the gap between expectation and execution continues to demand scrutiny.