---
title: "Department of Space Freezes Resignations to Protect Flagship Gaganyaan Mission"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/department-of-space-freezes-resignations-to-protect-flagship-gaganyaan-mission-avzr1
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Technology
published: 2026-08-03T08:08:40.000Z
modified: 2026-08-03T11:01:09.572Z
language: en-IN
---

# Department of Space Freezes Resignations to Protect Flagship Gaganyaan Mission

The Department of Space has issued a memorandum restricting voluntary retirement and resignations for key personnel at ISRO. This measure aims to safeguard the stability of the delayed Gaganyaan mission following a wave of departures.

## Key takeaways

- The Department of Space issued a memo on July 14, 2026, to restrict voluntary retirement for Group ‘A’ scientists and technical staff.
- Approximately 100 ISRO personnel have recently left the agency, impacting the timeline for the Gaganyaan mission.
- ISRO currently faces a 14.4% vacancy rate across its total sanctioned workforce of 18,142 positions.
- The first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission has been delayed past its original Q1 2026 launch window.
- Recruitment for 1,449 vacant posts is expected to be finalized by October 2026 to stabilize the workforce.

India’s space program is confronting a human resource challenge that has prompted the Department of Space (DoS) to implement emergency measures. In a formal memorandum issued on July 14, 2026, Joint Secretary S.R. Rajashekar directed ISRO center heads to halt the routine approval of resignations and voluntary retirement for critical scientific staff.

This intervention comes as roughly 100 personnel have departed the agency, threatening the timeline of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and other high-priority national initiatives. The directive specifically targets Group ‘A’ scientific and technical staff, ensuring their expertise remains attached to projects until mission realization.

## Stricter Oversight for Personnel Departures

The new protocol shifts the decision-making power for personnel exits from local unit heads to the central Department of Space. Even for staff at or below the rank of scientist/engineer-SG, unit directors must now provide clear recommendations to the DoS for a final determination rather than processing exits locally.

The memorandum emphasizes that the "spate of requests" for early exit has begun to exert a negative impact on the execution of major projects. Under these new rules, personnel linked to the prestigious Gaganyaan mission will find it significantly more difficult to leave the agency before their specific objectives are met.

## Staffing Gaps and Recruitment Delays

Data recently shared by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh reveals the scale of the agency's vacancy problem. During a February 2026 parliamentary session, the following figures were disclosed regarding ISRO's workforce:
- Total Workforce: Of the 18,142 sanctioned positions, 2,613 remain vacant.
- Technical Shortfall: The Science and Technology category faces 1,636 vacancies, with active recruitment efforts only covering 1,261 of those roles.
- Administrative Gaps: Only 3,057 personnel are currently in position against a sanctioned strength of 4,034.
- Vacancy Rate: The agency is operating with a 14.4% overall vacancy rate.

Minister Singh maintains that the exodus will not derail mission progress, citing a work culture where retired experts, such as former chief S. Somanath, often remain involved. However, the first uncrewed Gaganyaan launch (HLVM3 G1/OM1), originally set for the first quarter of 2026, has already slipped past its scheduled date.

## Mission Continuity at Stake

The government intends to finalize recruitment for 1,449 positions by October 2026. For the remaining 933 open roles, recruitment actions are still in the preliminary phases. While leadership insists the team size is large enough to absorb fluctuations, the July 14 memo indicates that the specialized nature of the Gaganyaan mission requires a level of personnel stability that the current voluntary exit rate cannot support.

Source: The Hindu — Sci-Tech

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/department-of-space-freezes-resignations-to-protect-flagship-gaganyaan-mission-avzr1
Reported from: The Hindu — Sci-Tech