India tightens exit rule as 100 scientists quit state-run ISRO

The government says the departures are "severely" affecting nationally important space projects

Photo taken from Indian Space Research Organisation's Facebook page

India has tightened rules on voluntary retirement and resignations after more than 100 scientists reportedly left the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NDTV reports.

The Department of Space (DoS) issued a directive on Jul 14 instructing major ISRO centres not to "routinely" accept resignation or voluntary retirement requests from scientific and technical personnel.

According to media reports, more than 100 employees have recently left ISRO, as the country's space agency grapples with setbacks in several key missions.

The DoS said the growing number of resignations and voluntary retirements is "severely" affecting the implementation of projects of national importance.

"In view of this, it has been decided that voluntary retirement and resignation requests from scientific and technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan and other important missions or projects may not be accepted as a matter of routine," the DoS said.

The department suggested that any such requests received from scientific or technical personnel, even of and below the rank of scientist and engineer, should be sent to it with "clear recommendations" from their directors for a final decision.

The move reverses an administrative change introduced in 2020 and restores the earlier approval process for "Group A" scientific and technical personnel.

The order has been sent to several key ISRO facilities, including the UR Rao Satellite Centre, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Space Applications Centre, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network, and the Master Control Facility.