I filed this RTI application with the CPIO, ISRO Headquarters on 15 July 2026, seeking the current status of the Gaganyaan programme, the approved list of missions sanctioned under the revised ₹20,193 crore outlay, target dates for the first uncrewed and first crewed missions, the history of and reasons for revisions to the G1 launch date, total expenditure incurred against the sanctioned outlay, and the list of ISRO launches planned for calendar year 2026.

The reply is dated 24 August 2026, with the inputs from the custodian of records dated 29 July 2026. A few queries in this application are not reproduced in the published copy below.

What ISRO disclosed

The approved Gaganyaan programme comprises eight missions. G1 is an experimental mission for early flight testing of new technologies. G2 and G3 will be two identical uncrewed missions ahead of the first crewed mission, H1. A repeat crewed mission follows as H2. G4 is an uncrewed space docking mission. G5 covers the launch of BAS-1 and an uncrewed docking mission to BAS-1.

G1 is targeted in 2026. H1 is targeted by 2027.

On programme status, ISRO states that the first and second Integrated Air Drop Tests and the first Test Vehicle mission have been accomplished, with activities in progress towards the second Test Vehicle mission. Systems have been realised and integration activities are nearing completion for G1. Development of new systems and their ground qualification tests are being carried out in parallel.

On expenditure, the reply states that the cumulative financial target achieved for the Gaganyaan programme is approximately ₹6,709 crore as on date, against the sanctioned outlay of ₹20,193 crore.

On the 2026 manifest, five missions are planned during the calendar year, with the schedule stated to be under finalisation.

What ISRO refused

Three queries were refused on the ground that the information is not available in material form:

• A table of all previously announced target dates for G1 from the original announcement onwards, with the date on which each revision was approved
• The specific technical, procurement, testing or administrative cause behind each revision of the G1 launch date
• Whether the decision to use the C-32 cryogenic upper stage in place of the C-25 stage contributed to schedule revision, and the date that substitution was approved

That phrase does not appear anywhere in the RTI Act as a ground for refusal. A revision to the approved schedule of a Cabinet-sanctioned programme, and a change of launch vehicle upper stage, are decisions recorded on file. The reply does not state that any search of records was conducted, or that no such record exists.

Several further queries were refused under Section 8 of the RTI Act, including the planned deployment of chartered tracking vessels and personnel in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for the G1 mission. No sub-clause of Section 8(1) was specified in any of these refusals and no reasons were recorded, as required by Section 7(8)(i). Severability under Section 10 was not applied.

Replies that do not answer the question

Asked whether TV-D2 flies before or after G1 in the approved chronological sequence, the reply states only that activities are in progress for both missions.

Asked which of the publicly reported launch windows for G1 — March 2026, Q3 2026 or the second half of 2026 — is correct as per internal programme documents, the reply restates the calendar year.

Asked for the reasons behind the change in the number of planned TV-D series abort tests and the advancing of the Vyommitra humanoid payload from G2 to G1, the reply cites programmatic requirements and does not address the Vyommitra payload at all.

Asked for the complete 2026 launch list with mission designation, launch vehicle, payload and target month, the reply confirms the number of missions but withholds every particular sought.

Note on the expenditure figure

The reply answers a question about expenditure incurred with the phrase "cumulative financial target achieved". These are not the same thing. ISRO contracts industry on milestone-based payments, so hardware can be built and awaiting acceptance while the final tranche remains unreleased. Committed liabilities are likely higher than the ₹6,709 crore booked.

Status

A first appeal under Section 19(1) is being filed with the First Appellate Authority, ISRO Headquarters.