Assam in final stage of choosing partner for its own satellite, says CM
The Assam government is at an advanced stage of selecting a private-sector partner to build and launch its own satellite, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday (August 23, 2026).
Mr. Sarma said in a social media post that Assam will be the first state in India to have its own earth observation system. The satellite, named 'AssamSAT', will be developed under the DBLOTT (Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train & Transfer) model.
Earlier this year, the state government invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) to choose an implementation partner. According to the Chief Minister, the response from India's private space sector companies was strong, and dedicated committees are now evaluating the proposals.
"We are now in the final and critical stage of partner selection," Mr. Sarma said, describing AssamSAT as a landmark shift from the state being a mere user of satellite data to an active participant in the space-tech ecosystem.
The initiative was first announced in March 2025 by the then Finance Minister Ajanta Neog while presenting the state Budget for 2025-26. She had said the satellite would ensure a continuous, reliable flow of data for implementing critical socio-economic projects and also keep surveillance on the state's borders.
In her budget speech, Ms. Neog had said the satellite would provide dedicated services for agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development, border security management, and police operations. She had also mentioned that the project would be undertaken in collaboration with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) under the Department of Space.
Additionally, the satellite programme aims to ignite the imagination of students in the state. They would be involved in building experimental satellites with the support of IN-SPACe and ISRO.
The move reflects a growing trend of state governments leveraging space technology for governance and development. Assam's initiative is being watched as a potential model for other states to follow.
