India flags heightened collision risk for most of its low-Earth-orbit satellites

Space Minister Jitendra Singh told Parliament that 20 of India's 22 active low-Earth-orbit satellites face increased collision danger, and highlighted recent avoidance maneuvers and debris-reduction plans.

During a parliamentary response, Space Minister Jitendra Singh warned that 20 out of 22 Indian satellites operating below 2,000 km are now at greater risk of collision because of a denser population of space objects. He reported that ISRO executed 20 collision-avoidance manoeuvres in 2025 and has already carried out nine in 2026. Singh emphasized India's active role in global debris-management forums such as the IADC, UN-LTS, and various space-situational-awareness working groups, and cited the country's contribution to updated IADC mitigation guidelines.

The debris-free space mission (DFSM) program, announced in 2024, aims for zero debris from Indian actors in the future. Tracking capabilities are being enhanced with the existing multi-object tracking radar at Sriharikota and a soon-to-be-operational optical telescope at Hanle, which will monitor objects as small as 30 cm at GEO altitude. The minister also provided updates on the Gaganyaan crewed-flight program and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station, slated for operational status by 2035, underscoring broader ambitions in human spaceflight.