Goa, Sept. 8 -- The Centre has dismissed reports suggesting that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) could be privatised or that its role in India's space programme may be diluted, making it clear that the space agency will remain at the heart of the country's space ambitions.

The government said ongoing space-sector reforms are aimed at creating greater opportunities for private industry, particularly in scaling up mature space technologies and commercialising established capabilities.

Under the reforms, ISRO will continue to focus on areas requiring advanced research and strategic expertise. These include frontier research and development, strategic space missions, human spaceflight, next-generation launch systems, and lunar...