In 2024, an Indian satellite narrowly avoided a collision with a foreign spacecraft. The incident, while not catastrophic, rattled policymakers in New Delhi and set off a conversation: how does India safeguard its growing fleet of satellites from accidental crashes, cyberattacks, or even hostile manoeuvres in space?

One idea under discussion is straight out of science fiction — “bodyguard satellites.” These would be dedicated spacecraft that hover close to high-value Indian satellites, monitoring their surroundings and stepping in if another object gets dangerously close. If realised, this move would place India among the handful of countries considering active satellite protection systems in orbit.

Bloomberg recently reported that officials are pursuing a Rs 27,000-crore ($3 billion) pl

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