The story so far
Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved a State-specific Space Industrial Policy on April 17.
Aims to attract space sector investments like satellite manufacturing and launch services.
Follows Union government’s Indian Space Policy 2023.
Tamil Nadu joins Karnataka and Gujarat with dedicated space policies.
How is Tamil Nadu placed?
ISRO has a propulsion complex in Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli for engine testing and R&D.
A second national spaceport is being built at Kulasekarapattinam, Thoothukudi.
The State hosts space startups working on launch vehicles and in-space tech.
NIT Tiruchi has a Space Technology Incubation Centre linked to ISRO.
What triggered the policy?
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) advised Tamil Nadu to create a formal space strategy.
Tamil Nadu already had an Aerospace and Defence Policy with space as a focus area.
The State has over 250 vendors already supplying parts to ISRO.
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) signed an MoU with IN-SPACe to boost startup activity and R&D in space.
What does the policy want to achieve?
Goal to attract ₹10,000 crore investment and create 10,000 jobs in five years.
Plans to integrate space tech in governance for disaster management, agriculture, transport, and health.
Offers payroll subsidies to R&D firms and global capability centres in space.
The govt will notify select regions as Space Bays for offering structured packages of incentives to firms that plan to do investments below ₹300 crore.
Developers of industrial parks can get up to ₹10 crore for housing infrastructure.
Green initiatives in space parks will get a 25% capital cost subsidy (up to ₹5 crore).
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