Overview of Space Law: International and Indian Legislation

Overview of Space Law: International and Indian LegislationSpace law is an evolving field of international and domestic law that governs the exploration, use, and commercial activities conducted in outer space. The international legal framework is primarily based on five United Nations treaties: the Outer Space Treaty (1967), Rescue Agreement (1968), Liability Convention (1972), Registration Convention (1975), and Moon Agreement (1979). These instruments establish fundamental principles including the peaceful use of outer space, freedom of exploration, non-appropriation of celestial bodies, state responsibility for national space activities, liability for damage caused by space objects, registration of space objects, and assistance to astronauts. With the rapid expansion of private space companies, satellite constellations, space tourism, space-resource utilisation, and increasing concerns regarding space debris and orbital congestion, international space law continues to evolve through UN principles, guidelines, and sustainability frameworks.In India, space activities have historically been led by government institutions, particularly ISRO and the Department of Space. However, India's space sector is increasingly moving towards private and commercial participation. The Indian Space Policy 2023 and the establishment of IN-SPACe represent important developments in enabling and regulating non-governmental entities in India's space ecosystem. India's international treaty obligations, national policies, institutional mechanisms, and existing domestic laws collectively form the current legal framework for space activities. At the same time, emerging issues such as licensing, liability, insurance, satellite operations, space debris, cybersecurity, space tourism, and potential space-resource utilisation highlight the importance of continued development of Indian space legislation. 

A research document was prepared by Unnati Mishra, Research Assistant (Constitutional and Legal), MacroEdtech, as part of MacroEdtech's ongoing research initiatives examining the intersection of law, technology, science, and emerging industries.