ANALYSIS OF THE OUTER SPACE TREATY AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIA

The adoption of the Outer Space Treaty marked the foundation of modern international space law by establishing outer space as a global common dedicated to peaceful purposes. Negotiated during the Cold War era under the auspices of the United Nations, the Treaty sought to prevent the extension of geopolitical rivalries into outer space while ensuring that space exploration would benefit all humankind. India, as an emerging space power and a signatory to the treaty, has developed its national space program within this multilateral framework. Through institutions such as ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), India has pursued a development-oriented model of space utilization consistent with the treaty’s principles of peaceful use and international cooperation. However, the rapid commercialization of space, the entry of private actors, and growing strategic competition raise questions regarding the continued adequacy of the treaty’s framework. This paper critically examines the legal architecture of the Outer Space Treaty and evaluates its impact on India’s evolving space governance regime.