PAC Urges Economic Prudence in GSAT-18 Satellite Planning

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has rebuked the Department of Space for unnecessary expenditure on GSAT-18, a communications satellite launched in 2016. The six Extended C-Band transponders of the satellite will go unused until 2027 because they overlap with GSAT-14. PAC pointed out that the breakdown in planning resulted in the loss of ₹117 crore in revenue and asked whether the economic sense it made to keep these transponders idle for 11 years. The Department justified its move, citing continuity of service and protection of orbital spectrum, but PAC is not convinced, calling for more prudent planning to prevent wasteful expenditure.

Sources: Indian Express, Business Standard