Context

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an MoU signed in Port Louis, Mauritius between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Information Technology, Communications and Innovation of the Republic of Mauritius. 
• This MoU pertains to cooperation in the development of a joint small satellite.

Key Points

Implementation schedule

• The signing of this MoU will enable joint implementation of small satellites between ISRO and MRIC.
• This satellite implementation is proposed to be completed in a time frame of 15 months.

Total expenditure

• The estimated cost of complete completion of this joint satellite is Rs 20 crore, which will be borne by the Government of India.
• This MoU does not involve any other exchange of funds between the two parties.

Effect

• This MoU will help in establishing a framework of cooperation between ISRO and MRIC for cooperation in respect of development of a joint satellite as well as utilisation of MRIC ground station.
• Some of the sub-systems of this joint satellite will be adopted through participation of Indian industries and this will benefit the industry.
• The collaboration through this joint development of the satellite will help ensure continued support from the Government of Mauritius for the Indian ground station in Mauritius, which is critical to ISRO/India's launch vehicle and satellite missions.
• Moreover, this joint satellite construction will also prove helpful in ensuring support from MRIC from its ground station for ISRO's small satellite missions in future.
• Some of the sub-systems of this joint satellite will be adopted through participation of Indian industries and thus employment will be generated.

Background of India-Mauritius relations

• Cooperation in the field of space between India and Mauritius began in the late 1980s when ISRO agreed to provide space tracking and telemetry for ISRO launch vehicle and satellite missions under a country-level agreement signed in 1986 for this purpose. A ground station was established in Mauritius for field assistance.
• Current space cooperation is governed by a country-level agreement signed on 29.7.2009, which replaced the 1986 agreement referred to above.
• Based on the interest expressed by MRIC about jointly building a small satellite for Mauritius, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged ISRO to initiate such discussions with MRIC for realising the India-Mauritius joint satellite. , in which MEA provides funds to realise, launch and operate the joint satellite.
• This MoU was signed during the visit of the Minister of State (MEA) to Mauritius for the ‘Aapravasi Divas’ program in Port Louis, Mauritius on November 1, 2023.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAM

ISRO

• Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Current Chairman: Shri S. Somnath