The Department of Space (DoS) intervened to halt a recent wave of resignations from flagship ISRO programs. A new internal memorandum was issued on July 14, tightening rules regarding voluntary retirement and departures of scientists working on Gaganyaan and other critical projects.
Scale of Staff Departure
Although the Department of Space did not disclose the exact number of departing specialists, sources within ISRO told TOI that the number was significant enough to warrant intervention—between 100 and 120 people. One source specified that about 80 people left only from URSC, and at least 20 from VSSC, potentially totaling around 120, excluding those still under evaluation.
Among those who left are key personnel, such as Viktor Joseph, the project director of LVM-3 from VSSC. A source also reported the departure of the SpaDeX project director from URSC and the exit of a very talented young specialist involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
ISRO Leadership's Reaction
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan acknowledged the departures, stating that the organization is prepared to handle the situation. He noted that staff turnover is part of any structure's life cycle, but the new directive aims not only to retain personnel but also to prevent sudden damage to important projects. He emphasized that if someone leaves, another will take over responsibility, and they are addressing this matter.
Significance of Departing Specialists
Despite the recent departures constituting a small fraction of ISRO's total staff of over 14,600, they occurred in strategically vital centers. URSC had 1,339 employees, while VSSC, ISRO's largest center, had 4,577 people at the end of the last fiscal year. The main concern relates to the loss of personnel from key missions.
An example of such a loss is scientist Aditya Rallapalli of Chandrayaan-3, the mission (simulation) project manager. He led a specialized group that generated nearly 25 terabytes of data from over 100,000 tests, which proved critical for verifying the lunar landing sequence.
The memo reflects this concern by noting a recent surge in requests for voluntary retirement and resignation among scientific and technical personnel of Group 'A', including those associated with prestigious Gaganyaan missions and other important projects, which seriously impacts the implementation of national projects.
Change in Administrative Authority
The directive also states that requests for resignation and voluntary retirement from scientists linked to Gaganyaan and other vital missions 'may not be accepted as routine matters.' Center directors have been instructed to refrain from accepting such requests until the relevant projects are completed. Instead, all such cases must be forwarded to the DoS along with the director's recommendations for a final decision.
This procedure cancels a key administrative change introduced in 2020. According to the November 25, 2020, memorandum, center directors and ISRO division heads had the authority to accept requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group A scientific and technical personnel up to the level of Scientist/Engineer-SG. This power is now effectively revoked for scientists attached to Gaganyaan and other major missions.
Historical Context of Staff Outflow
Staff attrition is not a new phenomenon for ISRO, nor can it be explained solely by the capabilities of the private space sector. Previously, TOI reported that between 2004 and 2007, almost half of the agency's new employees resigned. Official data also shows that approximately 700 employees resigned between 2012 and 2024. ISRO's annual report for 2025–26 indicates an advanced stage of recruitment for about 1,050 scientific, technical, and administrative positions, while last year's personnel review legalized 466 project positions and created about 460 higher-grade positions. Nevertheless, the latest DoS directive shows that replacing experienced scientists working on national missions is not as simple as filling vacancies.
