“We Could’ve Done It in 3 Years”: Nambi Narayanan Slams Funding Delays in India’s Space Tech Journey

At a time when India’s space startup ecosystem is surging, one of its foundational voices has issued a sobering reminder: progress could have come decades earlier, if only the money had followed the vision.

Narayanan emphasized that while India has made strides in rocket technology, financial bottlenecks remain a major hurdle for faster adoption of cutting-edge space systems.

Speaking at National Innovation Day at Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Padma Bhushan awardee and former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan reflected on the long, winding road of India’s space propulsion development. His message was clear: funding bottlenecks—not technical limitations—were the real drag force.

Nambi Narayanan

We could have completed the liquid propulsion system in three years, Narayanan said. But it took nearly 20 years. Why? Because the funds were not available when we needed them.

The Cost of Delay

• Narayanan’s remarks cut to the heart of a recurring theme in India’s tech evolution: brilliant minds hamstrung by budgetary hesitation.
• The liquid propulsion system—critical for modern satellite launches and interplanetary missions—was ready to leap forward in the 1990s.
• Instead of a sprint, it became a marathon.

We had the technology. We had the talent. What we lacked was timely investment, he added.

A New Era, But Old Lessons

• India’s space sector has since opened its doors to private players, with over 300 startups now active.
• The market is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033.
• Yet Narayanan’s warning resonates: innovation without funding is just aspiration.

Editorial Takeaway

• Narayanan’s voice is more than nostalgic—it’s strategic.
• As India positions itself as a global space power, his message is a call to fund not just the future, but the present.
• Because in space, delays aren’t just costly—they’re orbital.