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Skyroot's Vikram-I orbital rocket in the news

30 October 2026 · ⏱ 2 મિનિટ · GS3 Space

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સમાચારમાં કેમ?

India's first private orbital rocket: how Vikram-I follows Vikram-S, and the IN-SPACe role GS3 Space tests

Quick scan: Vikram-I is Skyroot Aerospace's orbital rocket.

Why it matters: asked in KPSC 2023

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What you need to know

2 મિનિટ

Vikram-I is the orbital-class launch vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based private space start-up.

It follows Vikram-S, India's first privately built rocket to fly, and is part of the opening of the space sector to private players through IN-SPACe.

સ્રોત: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)

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મુખ્ય તથ્યો

Remember these

  • Vikram-I is the orbital-class launch vehicle of Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based private space start-up.
  • Vikram-S, its predecessor, was India's first privately built rocket to fly (sub-orbital, launched from Sriharikota in November 2022).
  • IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) is the single-window body that authorises and promotes private space activity.
  • Opening of the space sector to private players began with the 2020 reforms, with ISRO's facilities such as Sriharikota made available to them.
  • Launch site relevant to the story: Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh); company base: Hyderabad (Telangana).
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પ્રિલિમ્સ · મેઇન્સ

How the exam will ask it

પ્રિલિમ્સ

  • Vikram-I is an orbital-class launch vehicle developed by a private Indian start-up, Skyroot Aerospace, unlike the sub-orbital Vikram-S.
  • IN-SPACe functions as an autonomous agency within the Department of Space to authorise and promote non-government space activities.
  • Vikram-S was India's first privately developed rocket to be launched, from ISRO's spaceport at Sriharikota.

મેઇન્સ

GS3 (Science and Technology, Space): India's space sector was a state monopoly through ISRO, but the 2020 reforms created IN-SPACe as a single-window regulator and promoter, enabling start-ups like Skyroot to build launch vehicles such as Vikram-I. The implication is lower launch costs, a larger share of the global launch market and ISRO freed for strategic and deep-space missions. The way forward is a clear space activities law, liability and safety norms, assured access to launch infrastructure and sustained private capital.

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PYQ connection

A question UPSC has already asked on this

🔁 UPSC PYQ CONNECTION · KPSC CSE 2023

Which of the following statements is wrong with reference to Vikram-S?

  1. It was launched by DRDO.
  2. It was launched from Sriharikota.
  3. The mission was titled 'Prarambh'.
  4. It is India's first privately developed rocket.
જવાબ જુઓ

જવાબ: A

Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.

Practise this PYQ →
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Quick recall

Answer before you reveal

    જવાબ જુઓ

    જવાબ: —

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