Former ISRO Chief Blames Bureaucratisation for Scientist Exodus

Former ISRO Chief Blames Bureaucratisation for Scientist Exodus

Former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair has pointed to a deeper problem within the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as the reason behind the exodus of scientists from the organisation. In an interview, Nair attributed the exodus to a slow bureaucratisation and external agencies pulling out trained manpower, rather than financial incentives. He stated that the Department of Space's move to stem the scientist exodus, including from strategic programmes like Gaganyaan, is a confirmation of this deeper problem. Nair also highlighted the erosion of the 'unity of command' that allowed ISRO to build its space programme effectively. The issue of scientist exodus has been a concern for ISRO, with several scientists leaving the organisation in recent years.