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India’s space sector is going through a major change these days. After the opening of the space sector to private companies in the year 2020 and the arrival of ‘Indian Space Policy 2023’, the space tech environment in the country has completely changed. Today, more than 400 registered space startups are active in the country, in which companies like Pixel, Dhruva Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and Bellatrix Aerospace are emerging rapidly. A huge investment of about 500 million dollars has come into these startups. Amidst this growing market, in recent months there have been reports of about 100 to 120 experienced scientists leaving ISRO from major centers like UR Rao Satellite Center and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Even former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somnath has also joined the board of Agnikul Cosmos as an observer.
However, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has clarified that ISRO’s workforce is extremely large. He said that “many people come and many go,” which has no impact on the agency’s efficiency or national projects. Nevertheless, in view of this change, the Department of Space has issued a new instruction, under which the final decision on resignation or VRS of Group A scientists associated with missions of national importance like Gaganyaan will now be taken directly at the Department of Space level.
How to get a job in ISRO and what is the starting salary?
Becoming a scientist or engineer in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the dream of millions of youth in the country. For this, it is mandatory for the candidate to have passed class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) subjects. After this, it is necessary to have BE, B.Tech or equivalent degree in subjects like Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical, Civil, Aerospace or Physics. Eligible candidates are selected on the basis of written examination, stringent interview and document verification conducted by ISRO Centralized Recruitment Board (ICRB).
As per the rules of the 7th Pay Commission, a newly appointed Scientist or Engineer (SC Grade) gets a basic salary of Rs 56,100 under Pay Level 10. When government benefits like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, Professional Update Allowance and NPS are added to it, the total monthly salary of a new scientist comes to around Rs 95,000 to Rs 1.07 lakh.
Complete mathematics of pay scale with promotion
The career and salary of scientists in ISRO increases according to the pay matrix level based on their experience and performance. From the initial level 10, scientists rise to prestigious positions like SD, SE, SF, SG, H, Outstanding Scientist and Distinguished Scientist respectively.
As the post increases, the basic salary structure changes as follows:
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Level 11: Rs 67,700 basic
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Level 12: Rs 78,800 basic
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Level 13: Rs 1,18,500 basic
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Level 13A: Rs 1,31,100 basic
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Level 14: Rs 1,44,200 basic
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Level 15: Rs 1,82,200 basic
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Level 16: Rs 2,05,400 basic
Along with promotion, there is a huge increase in the allowances received, due to which the annual package of senior level scientists reaches between Rs 25 to 30 lakhs.
Where is India compared to NASA, ESA and JAXA?
If compared with global space agencies, the cash salaries of foreign institutions appear very high in Indian rupee terms. According to global data, the annual salary of research scientists in the American space agency NASA ranges from around $95,000 to $1.5 lakh, which is around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.25 crore in Indian currency.
Scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) get 60,000 to 95,000 euros or more annually, which is approximately equivalent to Rs 55 lakh to Rs 90 lakh. At the same time, the average annual salary of scientists in Japan’s space agency JAXA is between Rs 35 lakh to Rs 55 lakh. In private companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, this package is even higher.
Why is ISRO’s system strong despite low salary?
Even though ISRO lags behind foreign agencies in terms of direct cash, the social security and facilities provided to Indian scientists make it one of the best employers in the world. ISRO provides 100% cashless medical facility to its scientists for themselves, their spouse, children and dependent parents under the CHSS scheme.
In addition, secure and subsidized government accommodation (ISRO Housing Colonies), free or subsidized transport, special allowances for children’s education and excellent canteen facilities are available to scientists at various centers in the country. Even after retirement, the National Pension System as well as medical facilities continue. Simply put, more money is earned in foreign agencies, but there the cost of expensive living, taxes and treatment is also much higher in the same proportion.
Basic difference between NASA and ISRO facilities
NASA and other Western space agencies pay big pay checks to their employees, but they do not provide facilities like public housing. There the scientists themselves have to rent or buy houses in the expensive real estate market. Apart from this, the health facilities there are completely based on the commercial health insurance model, in which a large part has to be paid out of pocket.
In contrast, ISRO provides a complete social security cover to its scientists. A unique rule in the European Space Agency (ESA) is that there is no national income tax on the basic salary of the scientists there, whereas in NASA, a retirement fund is prepared under a separate pension and savings plan. Now with the advent of private space tech in India, new avenues are opening up for ISRO scientists along with government security to lead in the corporate world and get big packages.