India's space policy: Interests, international cooperation and conflicting goals

The Indian government is seeking to expand the country's space programme in order to strengthen national security, promote economic growth and bolster India's global standing. Its aim is to achieve strategic autonomy in the field of civilian space activities and technological sovereignty in the military sphere. In the area of security policy, India's quest for sovereign capabilities is a race against time owing to its rivalry with China. But despite improved investment and regulatory conditions, there has not yet been any significant progress towards the development of a robust and competitive space economy. India's most important strategic partner in the space sector is the US, with which it closely cooperates on trade, security and intelligence matters. In the field of civilian space activities, however, there is a growing interest in cooperation with European actors. India wants to attract more investment into the country, close technology gaps and diversify its partnerships.