India’s PSLV records 5th failure since 2021, ISRO setbacks drain taxpayers’ money
New Delhi: India’s space program is facing a critical setback as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) suffered its fifth major failure since 2021, raising questions about the reliability of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Modi government’s push for rapid commercialization of the country’s space sector.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest failure occurred on January 12, 2026, when PSLV-C62 failed during ascent from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the loss of the primary Earth observation satellite EOS-N1 (“Anvesha”) and 15 co-passenger spacecraft.
This marks the second unsuccessful PSLV attempt in eight months and the fifth major failure since 2021 disrupted supply chains and testing in last 5 years exposing systemic vulnerabilities in ISRO’s flagship program amid aggressive commercialization pushes. Between 2021 and 2026, ISRO’s reliability has been questioned as it faced three of these failures within a single 12-month period between January 2025 and January 2026.
Analysts say the repeated failures have disrupted critical satellite deployments, weakened strategic and national security capabilities, and caused significant financial losses to Indian taxpayers. The PSLV, long considered ISRO’s most reliable launcher, is now facing serious questions following consecutive failures.
ISRO Mission Failures Since 2021
The following list outlines major unsuccessful or partially failed orbital missions conducted by ISRO in recent years:
• PSLV-C62 (Jan 12, 2026): The mission was lost eight minutes after liftoff due to a technical anomaly in the third stage (PS3), destroying 16 satellites including the strategic EOS-N1 for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• PSLV-C61 (May 18, 2025): The mission failed during the third stage, preventing the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite from reaching orbit. ISRO cited a drop in combustion chamber pressure in the solid motor as the primary cause.
• GSLV-F15 (Jan 2025): The NVS-02 navigation satellite reached transfer orbit but failed to reach its final operational orbit due to a valve malfunction that prevented engine ignition.
• SSLV-D1 (Aug 7, 2022): The inaugural flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle resulted in a partial failure when a sensor anomaly placed satellites into an unstable orbit, causing them to re-enter and burn up shortly after launch.
• GSLV-F10 (Aug 12, 2021): The mission failed during ignition of the cryogenic upper stage due to a hydrogen tank valve leak, preventing the EOS-03 satellite from reaching orbit.
Financial and Strategic Losses
Experts warn that the repeated failures have had significant financial and strategic consequences:
• Launch Reliability Decline: Analysts note that three of ISRO’s last six missions as of early 2026 were unsuccessful.
• PSLV Workhorse Under Strain: For over three decades the PSLV had an outstanding reliability record, failing only twice between 1993 and 2017. However, the back-to-back failures of PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 have forced grounding of the vehicle for investigation.
• Strategic Impact: Recent failures have primarily affected strategic and national security payloads, including the NavIC navigation constellation and surveillance satellites for DRDO.
• Commercial Decline: India’s share of the global small-satellite launch market has reportedly fallen from 35% in 2017 to nearly zero by 2024–2025, as international clients shifted to more reliable providers such as SpaceX.
• Direct Financial Losses: PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 alone caused losses estimated at INR 1,100–1,250 crore, while cumulative losses from five failures are estimated at INR 2,200–2,800 crore (approximately $265–335 million)—around 15% of ISRO’s 2025–26 budget of INR 24,000 crore.
• Opportunity Costs: Foreign rideshares generated $100+ million historically (e.g., PSLV-C56: $25 million). Recent flops have canceled Nepal/Brazil contracts, projecting $50-70 million revenue hit in FY26 (NSIL filings). Delays in DRDO border-survey assets weaken real-time ISR amid LAC tensions.
• Strategic Fallout: Analysts warn that recurring anomalies in PSLV’s solid-fuel stage could raise concerns about other systems relying on similar technology, including India’s missile programs. Pakistan’s SUPARCO/China partnerships highlight India’s lag, as noted in SIPRI 2025 space security reports.
Experts attribute the setbacks to Modi government overreach and rushed privatization initiatives, including partnerships with private launch companies such as Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, which critics say have pressured ISRO into accelerated launch schedules.
They caution that the Modi government’s aggressive commercialization drive risks undermining India’s $8-billion space economy ambitions by 2030, while repeated launch failures continue to damage the country’s commercial credibility, strategic preparedness, and global reputation in the space sector.
