- Why in news
- On 5 August 2026, the Minister of State for Space told the Lok Sabha that ISRO executed 20 collision avoidance manoeuvres in 2025 and 9 so far in 2026. He also outlined India's debris-mitigation and tracking efforts.
- What it is
- Space debris is non-functional human-made objects in orbit, such as dead satellites and rocket fragments. A collision avoidance manoeuvre (CAM) is a small change in a satellite's orbit to avoid a predicted close approach with another object. Low Earth Orbit is the most crowded region, so satellites there face the highest collision risk.
- CAM count
- ISRO performed 20 CAMs in 2025 and 9 so far in 2026.
- Liability framework
- IN-SPACe has formulated a policy framework on the State's liability for third-party damage from Indian space objects. It covers liability and insurance and is under consideration.
- Debris Free Space Mission
- India announced its intent for the Debris Free Space Mission (DFSM) in 2024. It aims at zero debris by all Indian actors, government and private.
- Tracking assets
- The multi-object tracking radar at Sriharikota tracks large LEO objects. The NETRA optical telescope at Hanle, Ladakh, is nearing completion and will track objects of 30 cm or more at GEO altitude.
- Outer Space Treaty
- Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, a state bears international responsibility for national space activities, including those of private entities. The 1972 Liability Convention makes a launching state liable for damage caused by its space objects.
Don’t confuse with IADC vs UN-LTS: IADC is a forum of space agencies that sets technical debris-mitigation guidelines. The UN Working Group on Long Term Sustainability of outer space activities is a UN body working on voluntary guidelines.
Don’t confuse with LEO vs GEO: LEO is below about 2000 km and is the most crowded zone. GEO is about 35,786 km above the equator, where satellites match Earth's rotation.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Space assets support communication, navigation and remote sensing, so protecting them safeguards economic and strategic interests.
- Debris mitigation shows India as a responsible spacefaring nation as private participation grows.
Problems
- Small debris cannot be tracked and cannot be avoided by manoeuvres.
- India's liability and insurance framework is still under consideration, and private launches are increasing.
Way forward
- Complete and notify the liability framework and expand tracking capability such as NETRA.
- Push for binding international rules on space traffic management and design satellites for end-of-life disposal.
Put in your answer
CAM numbers: ISRO executed 20 CAMs in 2025 and 9 in 2026 so far, showing a growing collision risk.
DFSM: The Debris Free Space Mission, announced in 2024, aims at zero debris by all Indian actors.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Space debris is a lasting topic with IADC and Debris Free Space Mission facts; space-debris questions in Prelims are rare, so no practice question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.