Guwahati: The Assam government is in the final stage of selecting a private-sector partner to launch its own earth observation satellite, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday.
The proposed satellite, AssamSAT, will be developed under the DBLOTT model: Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train and Transfer. Sarma said the state had invited Expressions of Interest earlier this year and received strong interest from private space-sector companies.
“Assam is now in the final and critical stage of partner selection, with dedicated committees evaluating the proposals,” the Chief Minister said in a social media post.
The AssamSAT project is aimed at transforming Assam from a user of satellite-based information into an active participant in the space technology ecosystem. The satellite is expected to provide faster and evidence-based data for governance and development planning.
The state government had first announced the satellite project while presenting the 2025-26 Assam Budget. It had proposed using AssamSAT for a range of applications, including agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development, border surveillance and police operations.
The project is being pursued in collaboration with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) under the Department of Space. ISRO, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), IN-SPACe and private satellite companies are expected to support the initiative under the National Space Policy framework.
Earlier, Assam Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta had said the state government held discussions with ISRO and the Union government seeking technical support for the mission.
A detailed feasibility study and mission plan will precede the finalisation of the satellite’s design, development, testing and launch schedule.
The state government has also prepared a draft Assam Space Tech Policy 2025, aimed at expanding the use of satellite technology in areas such as agriculture, disaster management and environmental monitoring.
Officials have said a state-owned satellite could provide quicker, more precise and cost-effective data, particularly for flood forecasting and other disaster-management requirements.