Jharkhand’s Untapped Space Potential
Jharkhand, formerly part of Bihar where India’s academic journey in space and rocketry took root, is yet to host a space or rocketry facility operated either by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) or the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Few may know that India’s first dedicated academic department for space and rocketry was established not at an IIT, but at the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra, Ranchi (now in Jharkhand) in 1964. The department was conceived to build the engineering foundations for India’s nascent defence and space programmes.
In fact, BIT Mesra was the first academic institution to establish a static rocket test firing facility on campus, where students could indigenously develop, simulate, and fire solid and liquid propellants. This initiative sought to provide budding scientists and engineers with hands-on training in aerospace engineering and rocket technology at a time when ISRO was still taking shape and had not even been formally established. In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up, which was later reorganised to form ISRO in 1969.The BIT Mesra Rocketry Department became a hub where generations of graduates went on to contribute significantly to ISRO and DRDO programmes.
According to BIT Mesra’s accreditation records, alumni of this department have held senior positions in India’s space and defence establishments, including serving as former directors of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), and the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). More recently, BIT Mesra alumni have continued to make their mark in India’s emerging private space sector through their contributions to Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 mission. This legacy of Jharkhand extends far beyond academia. The state has also played a significant role in India’s launch infrastructure through MECON, the Ranchi-based public-sector engineering consultancy that built the second launch pad at Sriharikota. This launch pad has since supported the liftoff of several important Indian missions, including Chandrayaan-3, whose historic lunar landing captured the aspirations of millions of Indians.
Adding another dimension to Jharkhand’s contribution, the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) based in Ranchi has undertaken major engineering work for ISRO, including the manufacturing of a mobile launch pedestal associated with the Gaganyaan programme.It is apparent that Jharkhand has served both as the intellectual cradle and the heavy-duty mechanical backbone of India’s space programme. Given Jharkhand’s long-standing contribution to India’s space and defence journey, the state deserves serious consideration for an ISRO or DRDO centre.
A space-technology incubation centre, a Regional Remote-Sensing Centre (RRSC), or a similar institutional facility could prove to be a practical starting point. Such a centre could connect Jharkhand’s universities, technical institutions, and young talent with India’s rapidly expanding space ecosystem. This would allow students and entrepreneurs to develop ideas without having to leave the state. Beyond creating employment opportunities, it would also uplift the scientific aptitude of its students and society in general.Jharkhand possesses several characteristics that make it attractive for space- and defence-related manufacturing and technology development. Its availability of land, established industrial infrastructure, mineral resources, and long history of heavy engineering provide a solid foundation on which a modern aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem could potentially be built.
Jharkhand should capitalise upon India’s push for the local production of defence components and systems to secure its own dedicated DRDO facilities. The recent notification of the sixth positive indigenisation list by the Ministry of Defence can provide the necessary impetus in this direction. The state and central governments should partner to expedite the march towards better defence infrastructure and diversify the state’s industrial base. Certainly, Jharkhand could position itself as a space-technology, aerospace manufacturing, and research hub, leveraging the capabilities it already possesses.
Such an initiative could create employment opportunities across the spectrum—from highly skilled engineering, research, and software jobs to manufacturing, fabrication, logistics, and other technical roles. More importantly, it could help transform Jharkhand’s historical contribution to India’s space programme into a future-oriented space and aerospace ecosystem within the state itself.Jharkhand stands at the threshold of a new era of development.
The state’s youth deserve better opportunities so they can write the nation’s growth story while continuing to reside and work primarily within their home state. The government and other stakeholders must recognise this aspiration and work collectively to create an enabling ecosystem for employment, enterprise, and innovation. With concerted efforts, Jharkhand can aspire to emulate the economic dynamism of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Specifically, Ranchi, with its pleasant climate, can emerge as a leading economic and innovation hub—the Bangalore of eastern India.
Gaurav Vaibhav, ISRO Scientist, Bangalore;
Shubhranshu Suman, Research Associate, Sustainable Futures Collaborative, New Delhi
