ISRO issues memo to curb exodus of scientists and engineers from Gaganyaan and other key missions

📌 Summary:

• Around 100 ISRO personnel have quit the space agency across various centres; the Department of Space (DoS) issued a memorandum on July 14, 2026 to curb the exodus of scientists and engineers working on critical national missions like Gaganyaan
• The memo, signed by S.R. Rajashekar, Joint Secretary (Personnel), DoS, notes a ‘‘spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation’’ from Group ‘A’ Scientific/Technical personnel, including those on Gaganyaan and other important projects
• The attrition is ‘‘severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance’’
• Underlying issue (UPSC angle): retention of skilled scientific manpower in public R&D, competition from the private space sector and better-paying opportunities, and human-capital risk to flagship missions

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Technology — India’s space programme, human spaceflight (Gaganyaan), R&D human-resource challenges and brain drain from public institutions.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ISRO functions under the Department of Space (DoS)
• Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed (human) spaceflight mission
• The memo was issued by the Joint Secretary (Personnel), DoS

🔑 Key Term: Attrition (Brain Drain) — the loss of trained, skilled personnel from an organisation, here threatening continuity of critical space missions.