India's space program began in the early 1960s with the establishment of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). The committee was formed under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a renowned scientist and visionary, who is widely regarded as the father of India's space program.

Dr. Sarabhai was instrumental in setting up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in 1963. This marked the beginning of India's space program, which focused initially on the development of sounding rockets for atmospheric research.

In 1969, INCOSPAR was restructured and renamed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The organization was tasked with developing satellite technology and launching satellites into orbit. ISRO's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975 using a Soviet launch vehicle.

Since then, ISRO has developed a wide range of satellites for communication, remote sensing, weather forecasting, and navigation. The organization has also developed a number of launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which are used to launch satellites into orbit.

ISRO has achieved several notable milestones over the years. In 2008, India successfully launched its first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, which discovered water on the Moon's surface. In 2014, India successfully sent a spacecraft, Mangalyaan, to Mars, making India the first country to achieve a successful Mars mission on its first attempt and at a fraction of the cost of other Mars missions.

ISRO has also played an important role in promoting space technology for societal applications. The organization has developed a number of remote sensing satellites that are used for applications such as disaster management, resource mapping, and environmental monitoring. ISRO has also developed satellite-based navigation systems, such as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), which provides accurate position information to users in India and the surrounding region.

ISRO's achievements have earned India a reputation as a major player in the global space community. The organization has collaborated with several international space agencies and has launched satellites for several countries, including the United States, France, and Israel.