It’s about who owns India’s space future. Nine employee associations just issued a stark warning: Don’t let private firms ride on taxpayer-funded tech while ISRO gets left behind. They’re not anti-private sector; in fact, they want more private players. But not at the cost of gutting the heart of India’s space program. Their demand? Publicly funded tech shouldn’t be sold off like scrap. Launch vehicles like LVM3? Keep the know-how in-house till the next-gen rocket (NGLV) is ready. This isn’t just about bureaucracy; it’s about sovereignty. The same team that launched Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan doesn’t want to become consultants for private giants. They’re asking for more hiring, better promotions, and the right to speak up. Because a space program built on secrecy and speed can’t survive without its scientists. The real battle? Not in space; but in whose hands the future belongs.