Advika Medha Achar
Why does a country like India invest so much in space? The answer lies not only in science, but in diplomacy. India’s space programme was never just about rockets—it was about gaining autonomy, building partnerships, and signaling power. ISRO, as the face of this effort, shows how space has become central to India’s quest for influence.
When India’s Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole in 2023, it was not just a scientific milestone but also a diplomatic statement. Headlines around the world praised India as the first country to achieve this feat, and for many, it symbolized the arrival of India as a credible spacefaring nation. But beyond the applause and national pride lies a deeper story: India’s space programme has steadily evolved into a tool of diplomacy, one that blends cooperation, prestige, and strategy. My research explores this intersection, asking how the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has come to embody India’s smart power.
Why Does India Need Aerospace Diplomacy?
India’s turn to aerospace diplomacy was born out of necessity. In the decades following independence, Indian scientists faced strict technology denial regimes that limited access to advanced space technologies. The restrictions around cryogenic engine development in the 1990s, for example, highlighted the risks of relying on foreign partners. This experience pushed India to build indigenous capabilities which eventually took over 30 years! and to use space achievements as symbols of strategic autonomy.
But the need went beyond self-reliance. India also sought to project itself as a responsible leader in its neighborhood and across the Global South. For many developing countries, space remained out of reach due to costs and technical barriers. By offering satellite launches, training, and data-sharing, India positioned itself as a partner, not a competitor, and cultivated goodwill as a country willing to share its achievements.
Prestige was another factor. In an international system where technology often equates to power, a credible space programme allows India to signal its rising status on the global stage.
Aerospace diplomacy thus developed as a way to secure autonomy, foster cooperation, and enhance India’s image as a modern, capable power.
Soft Power in Orbit: ISRO’s Diplomatic Role
At the heart of India’s space diplomacy lies the projection of soft power—an ability to attract and persuade rather than coerce. ISRO has often acted not only as a scientific agency but also as a diplomatic bridge between nations.
One of the clearest examples is the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) launched in 2017. Conceived as a “gift” to neighboring countries, the satellite provided communication and meteorological services to partners such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
It was hailed as a demonstration of India’s willingness to treat its achievements as regional public goods. Yet, the episode also revealed limits: Pakistan declined to participate, citing concerns about dependence on Indian infrastructure. This illustrates the dual nature of soft power—while cooperation can generate goodwill, political realities can still blunt its reach.
Beyond satellites, India has consistently invested in capacity-building initiatives. A flagship example is the United Nations-affiliated Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), established in 1995 and hosted in Dehradun with ISRO’s support. Over the years, CSSTEAP has trained more than 1,500 professionals from 50+ developing countries in areas such as satellite communications, remote sensing, and space science. By nurturing scientists and policymakers across the Global South, India builds enduring networks of trust and positions itself as a model of affordable, inclusive space development.
Through such efforts, ISRO advances India’s foreign policy in subtle but powerful ways: strengthening trust, enhancing credibility, and positioning India as a responsible power in the global commons.
Hard Power Dimensions: The Dual-Use Reality
Yet, space diplomacy is not only about goodwill. ISRO’s growing capabilities carry strategic weight, bringing in the dimension of hard power.
The Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, planned for the near future, is often framed as a peaceful, prestige-driven project. But the technologies required for human spaceflight—heavy-lift launch vehicles, re-entry systems, and life-support modules—are deeply intertwined with military applications aswell. The same engineering that sends an astronaut into orbit can also underpin intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology which is a core hard power.
This dual-use nature of space systems means that ISRO’s progress cannot be separated from India’s defense posture. Even though ISRO is a civilian agency, its advancements indirectly reinforce India’s deterrence capability and elevate its status as a technologically advanced nation. Space achievements therefore blur the line between civilian science and strategic credibility, showing how aerospace diplomacy also strengthens India’s hard power foundations.
Smart Power in Space: India’s Distinct Path
When viewed together, ISRO’s initiatives reflect more than just soft or hard power—they reflect smart power. Coined by Joseph Nye, smart power is the strategic combination of attraction(soft power) and capability of persuasion and deterrence(hard power).
India’s space programme demonstrates this balance. Projects like GSAT-9 and international training initiatives highlight India’s cooperative, non-threatening posture, while missions such as Gaganyaan and the development of indigenous launch vehicles underscore its capacity for high-technology achievement. It is in the blending of these dimensions that India’s smart power strategy comes into view.
Comparisons make this distinction sharper like; China’s space diplomacy is often viewed as competitive and geopolitical, linked to its Belt and Road Initiative and broader strategic ambitions. The United States, meanwhile, has embraced commercial partnerships, with NASA leaning on private players like SpaceX to expand its global footprint. India, by contrast, offers a “middle path” of aerospace diplomacy—one rooted in cooperation and inclusivity, yet backed by technological strength. This distinct model allows India to project influence without provoking fear, appealing especially to the Global South.
Conclusion: Science, Policy, and India’s Smart Power
India’s aerospace diplomacy has grown from necessity into strategy. From overcoming technology denial regimes to gifting satellites, from training international scientists to preparing for human spaceflight, ISRO has emerged as more than a scientific institution—it has become an instrument of foreign policy. Its initiatives reflect India’s pursuit of smart power, combining the appeal of soft power with the credibility of hard power.
For me, researching this theme has been a reminder of how science and policy are deeply interlinked. A rocket launch is never just a technical feat—it is also a political signal, a diplomatic gesture, and a statement of ambition. As India continues to expand its presence in space, understanding ISRO’s role as a diplomatic actor becomes all the more important.
In the orbit of satellites and the trajectories of rockets, we see how cooperation, strategy, and power come together to shape India’s place in the world.
About the contributor: Advika Medha Achar is a Research intern at IMPRI and Foreign Policy Research Centre. She is a fellow of DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellowship- Cohort 2.0.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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Acknowledgement: This article was posted by Shivashish Narayan, a visiting researcher at IMPRI.
