How can India balance its ambition to become a global spacetech partner with the need to ensure ethical and sustainable space practices?

India is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global spacetech arena, attracting international collaborations and commercial opportunities. As India pursues its ambition to be a global spacetech partner, it faces important challenges related to ethical conduct, sustainability, and responsible technology sharing.

• Adhering to International Treaties and Norms: India must strictly comply with global agreements like the Outer Space Treaty (1967) and guidelines set by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), ensuring peaceful and responsible use of outer space.
• Promoting Space Sustainability: India should implement measures to minimize space debris, such as adopting best practices for end-of-life disposal of satellites, and supporting international efforts to track and manage space debris.
• Ethical Technology Sharing: While collaborating globally, India needs to ensure that sensitive space technologies are not misused for military or destructive purposes, by following strict export control regimes and technology transfer agreements.
• Environmental Responsibility: India should focus on reducing the environmental impact of space launches, such as minimizing hazardous emissions and promoting the use of green propellants.
• Inclusive and Transparent Policy Frameworks: Developing clear policies for private sector participation, data sharing, and international partnerships can foster trust and prevent ethical violations.
• Capacity Building and Global Cooperation: India can take the lead in offering training, technology, and expertise to other developing nations, promoting equitable access to space and reducing the technology gap.
• Public Awareness and Stakeholder Engagement: By engaging with academia, industry, and civil society, India can ensure that its space activities align with broader societal values and ethical standards.