India is on track to capture 10% of the global space market within five to seven years, as policy reforms and strengthened US connections energise its burgeoning private space sector, according to the US Department of Commerce.
India could capture 10% of the global space market within 5 to 7 years, according to the US Department of Commerce, as policy changes and deeper commercial links with the United States give fresh momentum to the country’s fast-growing private space sector. The department said India now accounts for less than 2% of the market but sees major upside in satellites, launch services, manufacturing, connectivity and related technologies.
The International Trade Administration described India’s space industry as its “Market of the Month” in an August aerospace and defence export alert, and said the government’s push towards privatisation is opening the door to more international investment. It also noted that Indian space start-ups are increasingly looking to build a presence in the US, not just sell into the Indian market.
The wider bilateral relationship has a long history in space. The Council on Foreign Relations says cooperation dates back to the early years after Indian independence, while the Carnegie Endowment has noted that the first Indian sounding rocket launch in 1963 involved US assistance and that the Civil Space Joint Working Group was formed in 2005 to broaden civil space ties. That background helps explain why space has become one of the most durable areas of strategic collaboration between the two countries.
According to the Commerce Department, the relationship has recently gained additional structure through the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group and the TRUST initiative launched in 2025, which aims to address issues including market access, procurement, foreign direct investment and export controls. The department said a US commercial space mission to Bengaluru in February 2026 was successful, and urged companies seeking opportunities in India to attend the Bengaluru Space Expo from September 7 to 9.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
