Dhruva Space, an Indian spacetech startup, has been awarded ₹105 crore under the government’s Research, Development & Innovation Fund to advance Project Garud, a 500 kg-class satellite platform designed to enable mass manufacturing and deployment of satellite constellations.
- ₹105 Cr grant awarded for Project Garud satellite platform
- Focus on scalable production for telecom, earth observation, security
- Supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat space technology ambitions
What happened
Dhruva Space received ₹105 crore ($10.9 million) in funding through India’s Research, Development & Innovation Fund to develop Project Garud, a next-generation satellite platform designed for standardisation and large-scale constellation deployment. The platform targets a satellite mass class of around 500 kilograms and aims to support varied applications including telecommunications, earth observation, and national security.
This grant followed Dhruva Space’s ongoing fundraises, including a ₹38.7 crore pre-Series B round with reputable investors, and is part of wider government efforts to advance indigenous spacetech capabilities. Earlier in the year, Dhruva along with other startups was selected by IN-SPACe to develop small satellite bus platforms with modular and scalable designs.
Why it matters
Project Garud represents a critical step towards the industrialisation and self-reliance of satellite manufacturing in India. Developing a robust and production-ready satellite bus platform domestically reduces dependence on foreign suppliers and enables high volume manufacturing potentially reaching 500-600 satellites annually, boosting India’s strategic capabilities in space.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, aiming at technological independence in deeptech sectors like space, AI, and robotics. As the Indian spacetech market is forecast to grow to $77 billion by 2030, Dhruva’s advances are timely in nurturing a globally competitive ecosystem for spacecraft manufacturing and subsystem supply.
What to watch next
Key developments to monitor include Dhruva Space’s progress in industrialising the satellite platform and its commercial launch roadmap, building on their LEAP-1 mission launched in 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Expansion into constellation deployments across communications, intelligence, and strategic sectors will be pivotal for validating the platform’s scalability and versatility.
Additionally, the broader Indian spacetech landscape will be shaped by upcoming outcomes from the RDI scheme, with companies like Skyroot Aerospace achieving unicorn status and startups introducing innovative technology such as AI-powered orbital data centres. These combined developments mark a rapidly evolving market driven by increased private participation and government backing.