New Delhi: The Department of Space has issued a strict revised mandate regulating voluntary retirement and resignation protocols for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Group A Scientific and Technical personnel. According to an official Office Memorandum released on July 14, the government has directed that exit requests from scientists actively tied to the prestigious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and other critical national space projects must no longer be accepted as a matter of routine. The immediate administrative clampdown comes after the central space department detected an unexpected surge in exit applications among top-tier space researchers, a trend that threatened to disrupt the strict timelines of high-stakes space exploration initiatives.
The new policy formally revokes previous administrative flexibilities granted under a November 2020 directive. Previously, the Directors of individual ISRO Centres and Heads of Units possessed the autonomous authority to accept voluntary retirement notices under fundamental rules alongside standard civil services pension protocols, managing resignations for all Group A personnel up to the senior level of Scientist or Engineer-SG. Under the newly enforced guidelines, regional centre heads have been explicitly instructed to withhold approval for any resignation or retirement notice submitted by key personnel until their designated missions achieve full realization.
Should an indispensable scientist insist on leaving the organisation, the regional centre management is now required to escalate the file directly to the Department of Space headquarters. The request must be forwarded alongside detailed, clear recommendations from the respective Centre Director for a final review and ultimate decision by the apex competent authority. The Department of Space has instructed all institutional heads across the country to widely publicise these tightened human resource guidelines and ensure stringent compliance to protect national strategic project timelines.
