Budget allocates Rs 7,388.19 cr to space programme

To build rockets and satellites to meet growing demand for space services from private television networks and govt

India's space programme gets 26.8% increase to Rs 7,388.19 crore, bulk of it to build rockets and satellites to meet the growing demand for space services from private television networks and government.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has increased by 42% the capital allocation to Rs 3,464 crore, required to build space infrastructure in the country.

According to revised Budget estimates for 2014-15, the space programme, spearheaded by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) got Rs 5,826 crore.

Jaitley's Budget for the space programme falls short of demand by a parliamentary panel, which sought 50% increase in allocation to beef up research talent, crucial for the space agency to build newer satellites and rockets as well as embarking on deep space missions.