29 July 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GAGANYAAN PROGRAMME

In this note

1. At a Glance

Gaganyaan = India's first indigenous Human Spaceflight Programme, demonstrating crewed LEO flight + safe return. [1][2]
Executed by ISRO, under Department of Space (DoS). Nodal minister answering Parliament Qs: Dr Jitendra Singh (MoS, DoS). [1][2]
Involves HLVM3 launch vehicle, Orbital Module (Crew+Service Module), Crew Escape System (CES), ground infra. [1]
High-value for Prelims (tech/infra terms) + Mains GS-III (space tech).

29 Jul 2026: PIB press release — written Lok Sabha reply on Gaganyaan development status, listing completed subsystems (HLVM3, Orbital Module, CES, infra). [1]

Sanctioned Jan 2019, initial budget ₹9,023 crore. [3]
2018 PM announcement: first Indian in space by 2022 target (later revised). [4]
Oct 2024: scope revised, budget hiked to ₹20,193 crore. [3]
Test Vehicle Development flight TV-D1: 21 Oct 2023. [5]
Programme "entered final phase" — stated by Dr Jitendra Singh. [6]
Uncrewed missions Gaganyaan-1/2/3 slated for 2026 (H2 2026 for G1); crewed flight targeted Q1 2027 / FY2027-28. [3][1]
Follow-on: Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) — first module launch targeted 2028. [7]

Item	Detail
Implementing agency	ISRO, Dept of Space [1]
Launch vehicle	HLVM3 (Human Rated LVM3) — propulsion/structures dev+ground tested complete [1]
Orbital Module	Crew Module + Service Module — propulsion qualified [1]
ECLSS	Environmental Control & Life Support System — engineering model realised [1]
Other systems	Deceleration system, Crew Module Up-righting System, Thermal Protection System, end-to-end avionics — developed & tested [1]
Crew Escape System (CES)	5 motor types static tested; all CES structures qualified [1]
Infra built	Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control Facility, Crew Training Facility, Second Launch Pad modifications [1]
Sanction year	Jan 2019 [3]
Original budget	₹9,023 crore [3]
Revised budget (Oct 2024)	₹20,193 crore [3]
TV-D1 test flight	21 Oct 2023 [5]
Uncrewed flights	G1, G2, G3 — targeted 2026 [3]
First crewed flight target	Q1 2027 / 2027-28 [3]
Follow-on programme	Bharatiya Antariksh Station — first module 2028 [7]

Scientific/Technological

Demonstrates indigenous human-rating of launch vehicle (HLVM3) — critical capability leap. [1]
ECLSS, thermal protection, crew escape = safety-critical tech firsts for India. [1]

Strategic/Geopolitical

Places India in elite club (US, Russia, China) with indigenous human spaceflight capability.
Feeds into long-term BAS (space station) ambition — strategic space presence. [7]

Economic

Budget escalation (₹9,023cr → ₹20,193cr) reflects scope/cost overrun — examinable trend. [3]
Spurs private-sector/ISRO-industry participation in space manufacturing ecosystem.

Administrative/Governance

Programme timelines repeatedly revised (2022 → 2027) — good example of megaproject slippage for GS-II/III governance discussion.
Parliamentary oversight via written replies (this PIB release itself) — standard accountability mechanism.

Oct 2024: Cabinet approves revised Gaganyaan scope, budget raised to ₹20,193 crore, includes additional uncrewed missions. [3]
29 Jul 2026: Lok Sabha informed of completed development milestones (HLVM3, CES, ECLSS, infra). [1]
Uncrewed G1 mission timeline shifted to H2 2026 (from earlier Q4 2025 target).

Gaganyaan implementing dept: Department of Space, not MoS/ISRO alone as ministry. [1]
Human-rated launch vehicle codename: HLVM3. [1]
CES = Crew Escape System — 5 motor types, static tested. [1]
ECLSS = Environmental Control & Life Support System. [1]
Original sanction: Jan 2019, ₹9,023 crore. [3]
Revised budget Oct 2024: ₹20,193 crore. [3]
TV-D1 (Test Vehicle Development flight-1): 21 Oct 2023. [5]
First crewed Gaganyaan flight targeted Q1 2027. [3]
Uncrewed missions named G1, G2, G3. [3]
Follow-up space station: Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), first module 2028. [7]
Infra facilities: Gaganyaan Control Centre, Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Crew Training Facility. [1]
Second Launch Pad (Sriharikota) modified for Gaganyaan. [1]
Minister answering these PQs: Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS (Independent Charge), DoS. [3][6]

Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) — direct follow-on programme. [7]
Chandrayaan-3 / Aditya-L1 — recent ISRO mission successes, comparative technology base.
PSLV/GSLV/LVM3 — India's launch vehicle family, distinguish from human-rated HLVM3.
IN-SPACe & NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) — private sector participation framework.
National Space Policy 2023 — governing policy framework for space sector.
NASA-ISRO NISAR mission — international collaboration angle.
Astronaut training (Vyommitra, Russia/Gaganyatris) — human element of programme.

Confusing HLVM3 (human-rated) with standard LVM3/GSLV Mk-III — not same certification level.
Mixing up ₹9,023 crore (original 2019 sanction) with ₹20,193 crore (2024 revised) — different years, different figures.
Assuming crewed flight already happened — as of Jul 2026 only uncrewed G1-G3 planned, crewed slated 2027.
Ministry confusion: Department of Space, under PMO direct charge, MoS Dr Jitendra Singh — not "Ministry of Space" (no such separate ministry exists).
TV-D1 (test vehicle flight, Oct 2023) often confused with actual Gaganyaan-1 uncrewed orbital mission — different tests.