New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the country’s national standards body, is hosting a major international conference on space systems and operations standards at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together global experts to discuss the future of space safety, sustainability and interoperability.
The 35th Plenary and Working Groups meetings of ISO TC 20/SC 14 – the ‘Space Systems and Operations’ subcommittee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – has drawn 131 international delegates from 13 countries, including representatives from national standards bodies, global space agencies, industry leaders and academic institutions.
Addressing the inaugural session, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said India’s hosting of the event reflects the country’s growing role in shaping the international space standards ecosystem.
She said India is emerging as a major global space hub following reforms and the establishment of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), which has opened the sector to greater private participation. Khare stressed that globally accepted standards are essential for ensuring space activities remain safe, sustainable and inclusive.
BIS Director General Sanjay Garg highlighted the importance of standardisation in improving quality, safety and global competitiveness in India’s expanding space industry. He said BIS is working to align Indian standards with international frameworks to support the evolving needs of the sector and strengthen the competitiveness of Indian private space companies.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said India’s space ecosystem is undergoing rapid transformation due to policy reforms and increasing private sector participation. He underlined the role of robust standards in enabling innovation, building industry confidence and integrating India more deeply into the global space economy.
The ISO subcommittee develops standards covering the entire lifecycle of space systems – from design and manufacturing to launch operations, mission safety, interoperability and space-based services. Discussions at the meeting are expected to focus on emerging areas such as space sustainability, debris mitigation and mission operations.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said the event underlines India’s rising stature in the global space sector, driven by the achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the growing participation of private players enabled through IN-SPACe reforms.
The inaugural session was also attended by BIS Deputy Director General Reena Garg, ISO TC 20/SC 14 Chairperson Frederick Slane and BIS National Mirror Committee Chairperson Rajeev Jyoti.
(DD News)