India’s first dedicated venture capital fund for the space sector has been operationalised, with investments in selected startups expected to begin from the first quarter of FY2027.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Space Jitendra Singh stated that the “Antariksh Venture Capital Fund” has been set up to support the country’s emerging spacetech ecosystem.
The fund has been established with a committed corpus of ₹1005 crore and is being managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL) as the investment manager.
The minister informed that the fund received registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India on 31 October 2025 and achieved its initial closing on 10 November 2025.
He noted that all key post-registration formalities have been completed, including the appointment of a custodian, registration with depositories for issuance of Alternative Investment Fund units, and the constitution of Screening and Investment Committees.
Evaluation of spacetech startups is currently underway, with four proposals already at an advanced stage after receiving Pre-Investment Committee approval, the minister said.
Singh emphasised that, given the nascent stage of India’s spacetech ecosystem, many startups require structured support to align with institutional investment processes.
According to the minister, “handholding support” is being extended to startups to help them streamline data, improve documentation, and meet due diligence requirements, enabling them to effectively access funding and scale operations.
The minister expressed confidence that following detailed appraisal, third-party due diligence, and completion of documentation, the first round of funding approvals and disbursements is expected in early FY2027.
He added that the initiative is aimed at strengthening private sector participation, encouraging innovation, and positioning India as a competitive player in the global space economy.
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