Assam is in the final stage of selecting a private-sector partner to develop and launch its own satellite, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday. The proposed AssamSAT will be developed under the DBLOTT model—Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train and Transfer—with dedicated committees currently evaluating proposals from interested space-sector companies. Sarma said the initiative would mark a major shift for Assam, moving the state from being primarily a user of satellite data to becoming an active participant in the space-technology ecosystem. The satellite is expected to provide reliable, continuous data to support evidence-based governance and the implementation of key socio-economic projects. The project was first announced in the 2025-26 state Budget, with plans to develop AssamSAT in collaboration with IN-SPACe under the Department of Space. The satellite is expected to support agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development, border security and police operations. The initiative also aims to encourage students to engage with space technology by supporting experimental satellite projects in collaboration with IN-SPACe and ISRO. Once operational, AssamSAT could strengthen the state’s capacity to monitor resources, respond to disasters and plan development projects using timely and locally relevant satellite-based information.
