20 Indian satellites in low earth orbit face higher collision risk, Govt tells Parliament

Twenty of India's 22 active satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) are at a higher risk of colliding with space objects due to the increasing density of satellites and debris in the region, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said satellites operating in low Earth orbit, below 2,000 kilometres in altitude, are more vulnerable to collision risks because of the higher concentration of space objects.

The minister said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has carried out nine collision avoidance manoeuvres so far in 2026, compared to 20 such manoeuvres in 2025.

A collision avoidance manoeuvre is a planned orbital adjustment undertaken by satellite operators to prevent an in-orbit collision with another satellite or space debris.

Singh said India is actively participating in international initiatives on space debris management, including the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and the United Nations Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (UN-LTS).

He added that ISRO has made significant contributions to the revised IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and has provided technical inputs based on its research and studies.

The minister also said that India announced its Debris Free Space Mission initiative in 2024 as part of its commitment to reducing space debris.

According to Singh, ISRO aims to achieve the goal of zero space debris generated by all Indian government and private sector space actors in the foreseeable future.