S Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), expressed his enthusiasm for welcoming more graduates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) into the national space agency.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay, Somanath emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing young talents who could lead and innovate in the space industry over the next 25 years. "My goal is to find individuals, especially young minds, capable of designing the future. That's why I am excited to engage with IIT," he stated.

Acknowledging his previous engagements at IIT-Madras, Somanath refrained from delving into the specifics of IITs' contributions to the space program during the recent event. However, he expressed his hope for an increased participation of IITians in the space program, emphasizing their potential role in advancing the nation's development.

During his comprehensive 54-minute presentation, Somanath outlined ISRO's forthcoming projects, highlighting the Gaganyaan mission, aimed at human spaceflight, among others. He shared his excitement for the future prospects, emphasizing that, beyond the current focus on space exploration, he sees immense possibilities lying ahead for ISRO.

Addressing the issue of recruitment challenges, Somanath highlighted the reluctance of engineers from IITs to join ISRO, attributing it to the agency's pay structure. He expressed concern over the difficulty in attracting top talent despite recognizing IIT graduates as among the best engineers available.

Recalling an instance where ISRO's recruitment team presented the salary structure to potential candidates at an IIT campus, Somanath expressed disappointment as 60% of the candidates opted out immediately upon seeing the pay offered by the space agency. He lamented that for many students, the perceived limited financial prospects at ISRO discouraged their interest in joining the organization.

Somanath's encouragement for increased involvement of IIT graduates in ISRO's endeavors reflects the agency's aim to harness the potential of young innovators for shaping the future of India's space exploration initiatives.

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