The Indian Space Association (ISpA) has recommended recognizing the space sector as critical infrastructure in the upcoming Union Budget. This step aims to unlock long-term financing and help the sector compete globally, said ISpA. They pointed out that India's space programs require huge capital and have long development cycles of five to seven years. Unlike global peers, Indian space assets lack formal infrastructure status, restricting access to affordable capital. ISpA wants at least 50% of government purchases of space hardware, services, and missions to come from Indian private firms, including those providing satellite imagery and geospatial data. "With growing use of satellite-derived data in governance and commercial applications, standardisation and security are critical. A structured procurement and access framework will support domestic industry while safeguarding national interests," stated ISpA. Financial proposals from ISpA include Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for satellites, launch vehicles, and components. They also seek a five-year tax holiday for space manufacturing, launch services, and space-based service providers. Other tax suggestions are R&D credits of 20%-30%, capital investment tax credits for launch infrastructure, and accelerated depreciation on related hardware. ISpA also proposed reforms in Special Economic Zones, export support, interest subsidies for infrastructure and R&D, GST rationalisation, foreign direct investment ease, and clearer legal regulations to boost space industry growth in India.