India’s ₹1,005 Cr Antariksh VC Fund Rollout Gets Pushed to 2027

The Indian government’s dedicated venture capital fund for space startups will begin investments in early FY2027, Minister of State in the Department of Space, Jitendra Singh, said in Parliament. The ₹1,005 crore Antariksh Venture Capital Fund has completed regulatory and institutional formalities, but funding has not yet been deployed.

The timeline indicates a delay from earlier expectations after the fund’s approval in 2024. Reports suggest the rollout has taken longer due to regulatory processes and the early-stage nature of India’s spacetech ecosystem.

The fund, managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited, received SEBI registration on October 31, 2025, and achieved its initial close on November 10, 2025. The government has begun evaluating spacetech startups, with four proposals already at an advanced stage of approval.

It also operationalised the fund to support India’s private space ecosystem and improve access to capital. Officials have completed the post-registration steps, including appointing a custodian and establishing screening and investment committees, according to a statement.

Singh said startups are receiving “handholding support” to meet due diligence requirements. This includes improving documentation and aligning with institutional investment standards.

The minister added that detailed appraisal and third-party due diligence are underway. He said the first round of funding approvals and disbursements is expected in the first quarter of FY2027.

The delay in the fund deployment indicates that India’s private space sector is still developing compared to global peers. The government wants to use the fund to strengthen private participation and scale innovation in the sector.

Officials said the initiative forms part of a broader push to position India in the global space economy, with increased focus on startups and commercial space activity.