BENGALURU: India's space public sector undertaking (PSU), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), may soon be led by a private sector executive, with the selection process for the chairman and managing director (CMD) post entering its final stages. Sources confirmed to TOI that the next CMD of the space PSU is expected to come from the private sector, with a senior professional from US aerospace major Boeing emerging as the front-runner. This would mark the first time a non-Department of Space (DoS) individual would head ISRO's commercial arm.
Background of NSIL Leadership
Since its incorporation in March 2019, NSIL has been headed by ISRO insiders — including Suma Devaki Ram, G Narayanan, Radhakrishnan Durairaj, and M Mohan — either on deputation or through formal appointment. Similarly, NSIL's predecessor, Antrix Corporation, which was established in September 1992 as the DoS's first commercial arm, has always been led by DoS insiders. Antrix is now nearly defunct.
Recruitment Process
The DoS issued a vacancy circular on August 11, 2025, inviting applications for the NSIL CMD post. The last date for submission of applications was September 11, 2025. The eligibility conditions explicitly allowed recruitment from the private sector. The circular invited applications from candidates working in the central government, including armed forces and All India Services, central PSUs, state PSUs, and private sector companies.
According to sources, the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) has shortlisted at least five candidates for the position, including a few DoS insiders. A final decision and order on the appointment is yet to be formalized. Another source confirmed that a formal order is expected soon, adding that the front-runner currently holds an important position at Boeing India and previously worked with European aerospace major Airbus. Before moving to the private sector, he worked with DRDO and has a career spanning both R&D and business operations.
Previous Attempts
This is not the first time the DoS has sought a private industry professional to head NSIL. In January 2022, the DoS opened the CMD post to private sector candidates for the first time. The SCSC was empowered to include names of individuals who did not apply and to relax eligibility criteria to accommodate standout candidates. At that time, then-interim NSIL CMD Radhakrishnan D was also eligible to apply, and the committee ultimately selected him for the post.
Current Vacancy
The NSIL CMD position has remained vacant since the end of March 2025, following the superannuation of M Mohan. If the Boeing executive is appointed, he will become the first private sector individual to head an operational wing of the DoS directly involved in space-related operations. While Pawan Goenka was the first non-DoS person to head a wing under the DoS, his role is with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which is a regulator-cum-promoter, not an operational wing.
NSIL's Mandate
A year after NSIL was incorporated, the government enhanced its role and scope in 2020. Its current mandate broadly includes: owning satellites for Earth observation (EO) and communication applications; providing space-based EO and communication services; building satellites and launching them as per demand; building launch vehicles through Indian industry and launching as per requirements; and providing launch services and technology transfer to Indian industry.
