SPACE ACTIVITIES BILL

Space Activities Bill, 2017

Key provisions of the bill:

The provision of legislation shall apply to every citizen of India. And also, to all sectors engaged in any space activity in India or outside India.

REGULATORY MECHANISM - the central government is responsible for setting mechanisms and promoting space activity. This includes exploration and use of outer space and development of the sector.

THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT can: grant, transfer and terminate licenses to any person for commercial space activities; provide professional and technical support and authorization to launch or operate space objects;  regulate the modes for conduct and operation of space activity by monitoring the conformity with international space agreements to which India is a party; ensure safety requirements and investigate any incident or accident in connection with the operation of a space activity.

LICENSES - A non-transferable license shall be provided by the Central Government to any person carrying out commercial space activity. A license granted by the central government includes - permission for the central government to inspect any space activity and documents related to space activity; obligation on the license to ensure himself/herself against any liability incurred due to any activity authorized by the license.

LIABILITIES - A license should Compensate the central government against claims brought against the government. This would be regarding damages arising out of commercial space activities covered under the license.

PENALTIES - The draft Bill provides for penalties in case of unauthorized commercial space activity; furnishing false information or documents; causing environmental damage; entry into prohibited areas; disclosure of restricted information. Protection of action taken by the central government i.e. no legal proceedings can lie against the central government with respect to anything done in good faith in pursuance of space activity.

IPR - Intellectual property rights developed during the course of space activity will be protected under the law. Further, any intellectual property right developed onboard a space object in outer space will be deemed to be the property of the central government.