Budget2021: FinMin allocates Rs 13,949 crore to Department of Space

New Delhi, February 01: In the midst of when ISRO is looking for its most ambitious Gaganyaan mission, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 13,949 crore to the Department of Space in Union Budget 2021-22. From the allocated budget of ₹ 13,949 crores, ₹ 8,228 crores have been earmarked for capital expenditure.

 

 

 

Apart from these, a total of Rs 700 crore has been allocated for the New Space India Limited (NSIL), a newly formed public sector undertaking under the Department of Space.

 

In her 3rd budget speech, she said, "The New Space India Limited, a PSU under the Department of Space, will execute the PSLV-CS51 launch, carrying the Amazonia Satellite from Brazil, along with a few smaller Indian satellites." She added, "As part of the Gaganyaan mission activities, four Indian astronauts are being trained on Generic Space Flight aspects, in Russia. The first unmanned launch is slated for December 2021."

 

 

Last year, the government has allocated 13.949.09 crore to the DoS. From which ₹ 8,228.63 crores have been earmarked for capital expenditure. Apart from the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO is also eyeing to accomplish the Mangalyaan-2 and the Shukrayaan mission by 2025. This budget will accelerate its work in the aforementioned missions.

 

The government also announced a deep ocean mission with an outlay of more than Rs 4,000 crore over five years to study the oceans and explore the oceanic biosphere. Sitharaman said, "Our oceans are a storehouse of living and non-living resources, to understand this realm we will launch deep ocean mission with a budget outlay of over Rs 4,000 crore over five years." The mission will cover deep ocean survey projects for the conservation of ocean biodiversity.