Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether India and US plan to sign the Commercial Space Launch Agreement that will enable Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch bigger commercial satellites made in US for carrying US components; and

(b) If so, the details thereof?

ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a) & (b) As part of the Civil Space Cooperation being pursued under Next Steps to Strategic Partnership (NSSP), India and USA are inter-alia, working towards an arrangement to facilitate launch of US satellites and third country satellites, which contain US components.

A Technology Safeguard Agreement (TSA), signed on July 20, 2009, currently enables India to launch US satellites and third country satellites, containing US components, intended for civil or non-commercial use.

The ‘Commercial Space Launch Agreement (CSLA)’ is still under discussion.

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