Space Activities Bill 2017
Source : PIB
Governance

What is discussed under Space Activities Bill 2017 ?

1. Status of the Bill
2. Draft Space Activities Bill, 2017
3. Criticism

Why in News ?

Space Activities Bill is under active consideration of the Government which will include aspects pertaining to regulation and promotion of private players in space sector.

Key Facts

• Government is in the process of creating an ecosystem to encourage more private participation in indigenous production of space technologies, services and devices.
• Government of India has announced space sector reforms in June 2020.
• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was created as an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space
  • It has mandate of promoting, handholding, licensing, authorization and monitoring of private space activities in India.
  • Access to Department of Space (DOS) facilities and expertise are extended to private entities to support their space activities.
• Government of India is encouraging transfer of technologies developed in the field of space to Indian industries.
• India is bringing in new sector policies and guidelines and also revising existing policies.

Draft Space Activities Bill, 2017

• Need for the bill
  • Encourages the participation of Indian industry and service providers in all round space activities under the technical guidance and authorization of the Government through Department of Space.
  • A few start-up companies too in India are showing interest in engaging in space systems activities.

    

  • Commercial opportunities in  space activities and services, nationally and internationally have higher demand by private sector agencies.
  • Non-governmental space activities are required to be licenced/ authorized and continuously supervised by a State  in order to comply with treaty obligations under under UN Committee on Peaceful Uses
    of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS)
• Features of the Bill
  • To promote and regulate the space activities of India.
  • To every citizen of India and to all sectors engaged in any space activity in India or outside India.
  • Space Activity Definition : Launch of any space object, use of space object, operation, guidance and entry of space object into and from outer space and all functions for performing the said activities including the procurement of the objects for the said purposes.
  • It requires a a non-transferable licence provided by the Central Government to any person carrying out commercial space activity.
  •  The Central Government have the authority to
    • Prepare mechanism related to Space activity plan with established goals, tasks and principles.
    • Grant, transfer, vary, suspend or terminate licence to any person.
    • Provide every professional and technical support and authorisation to launch or operate space object.
    • Create and maintain a register of space objects.
    • Ensure safety requirements and safety measures in relation to any space activity.
    • Share access and potential benefits including the pricing mechanism of products created by space activity and technology.
    • Power of Central Government to call for information, investigation, etc.
    • Authorisation for commercial space activity and Prohibition of unauthorised space activity.
    • Liability for damage arising out of commercial space activity.
    • Punishment for undertaking commercial space activity without authorisation or licence.
      • For unauthorised activity punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or fined more than 1 crore or both.
    • Protection of intellectual property rights. 
    • Protection of action taken in good faith.
    • Power of Central Government to take over control of space object or installation in certain circumstances.
• Criticism
  • Space activities not mentioned properly.
  • How domestic company and foreign company treated under GST regime as foreign registered companies can claim exemption from GST because the export of services is exempted from taxation.
  • Pollution to the environment of outer space including celestial bodies needs to be defined, like the space debris ‘code of conduct’.

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