Overview
- India’s space minister told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that first approvals and payouts are expected in the first quarter of FY2027 after appraisal, third‑party checks, and final paperwork.
- The fund is SEBI‑registered, managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited, and reached an initial close of ₹1,005 crore in November 2025.
- Key plumbing is in place, including a custodian, depository registration to issue fund units, and screening and investment committees.
- With FY2025–26 over, ₹150 crore went unused, and reporting indicates the ₹250 crore planned for FY2026–27 is also likely to remain unspent, creating a ₹400 crore early shortfall for startups.
- Evaluations continue with four proposals advanced after a pre‑investment review, as officials say many young space firms need guidance to organize data for due diligence under reforms that opened the sector in 2020 through IN‑SPACE.