- Why in news
- On 18 March 2026, the Government told the Lok Sabha that 129 trackable debris objects from Indian missions are in orbit, and described steps under the Debris Free Space Mission and NETRA.
- Debris count
- 129 trackable debris objects from Indian missions are in orbit as of March 2026. This includes 33 pieces from the in-orbit break-up of a PSLV C3 rocket body.
- DFSM goal
- DFSM was announced in 2024. It aims at zero debris creation by all Indian actors, government and private, by 2030.
- ISSAR
- ISRO releases the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report every year with assessments of the space situation.
- International guidelines
- India aligns its mitigation policy with IADC and UNCOPUOS guidelines. ISRO is an active IADC member.
- IS4OM
- IS4OM was set up in 2022. It coordinates long-term sustainability of outer space activities, and supports start-ups through IN-SPACe.
Don’t confuse with IADC vs UNCOPUOS: IADC is a forum of space agencies; UNCOPUOS is the UN committee on peaceful uses of outer space. Both issue debris mitigation guidelines.
Don’t confuse with NETRA vs ISSAR: NETRA is the tracking and warning project; ISSAR is ISRO's annual assessment report.
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
- Debris threatens satellites used for communication, navigation and weather services, so mitigation protects space assets.
- DFSM gives private actors a common target and supports sustainable use of outer space.
Problems
- Tracking depends partly on foreign data and limited indigenous radars until NETRA facilities are built.
- Active debris removal technologies are still at the precursor stage and lack legal clarity on ownership and liability.
Way forward
- Build indigenous observation facilities under NETRA and tie private firms to DFSM through IN-SPACe.
- Build international cooperation and norms on debris and active removal.
Put in your answer
SpaDeX: SpaDeX in 2025 showed docking and undocking, precursor skills for active debris removal.
Indian debris data: 129 trackable Indian-origin debris objects are in orbit as of March 2026.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about space debris management in India:
Which one of the following statements is correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Debris Free Space Mission aims for zero debris creation by all Indian actors, both government and private, by 2030.
True. DFSM targets zero debris creation by 2030 for government and private actors.
2.The Indian Space Situational Assessment Report is released by ISRO every year.
True. ISRO releases ISSAR annually.
3.The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) is a body under the United Nations General Assembly.
False. IADC is an inter-governmental forum of space agencies; UNCOPUOS is the UN committee.
4.India's SpaDeX mission demonstrated autonomous rendezvous, docking and undocking.
True. SpaDeX demonstrated these capabilities in 2025.
5.For post-mission disposal, ISRO plans to raise defunct LEO satellites to graveyard orbits so they stay clear of operational satellites.
False. For LEO satellites, orbits are lowered so they re-enter the atmosphere sooner.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.