Published Jul 17, 2026 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 17, 2026 | 6:20 PM
The headquarters of ISRO in Bengaluru. (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: Scientists working on the ISRO’s priority projects will now need approval from the Department of Space before they can resign or seek voluntary retirement. The reportedly aims to stem an uptick in resignations over the past year, with an estimated 100 to 120 scientists having tendered their resignations during the period.
Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) working on priority missions such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and other “projects of national importance” will no longer be allowed to resign or seek voluntary retirement through the regular administrative process. Instead, they will require approval from the Department of Space (DoS), The Times of India reported.
The decision reportedly aims to stem an uptick in resignations over the past year, with an estimated 100 to 120 scientists having tendered their resignations during the period.
An internal memorandum issued by the Department of Space on 14 July, cited by TOI, states that requests from Group A scientific and technical personnel engaged in Gaganyaan and other major missions should not be processed as a matter of routine.
Instead, directors of ISRO centres have been instructed to forward every application, along with their recommendations, to the Department of Space for a final decision.
The memorandum says the increase in departures has affected projects and directs centre heads not to relieve scientists working on critical missions until their assignments are completed.
Around 80 scientists are reported to have left the UR Rao Satellite Centre, while at least 20 resigned from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre by the end of the last financial year. By comparison, the total number of resignations between 2012 and 2024 stood at 700 employees.
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