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covering exciting investing ideas and opportunities in India.
With the Union Budget 2026 just around the corner, the Finance Minister is set to present her ninth budget on 1 February.
In recent years, the space sector has steadily gained prominence, emerging as a key focus area at the sectoral level.
In the Union Budget 2025, the Finance Minister reinforced this momentum with multiple measures aimed at strengthening the space ecosystem. The sector received a total allocation of over Rs 134.2 bn, marginally higher than the Rs 130 bn allocated in the previous year.
This included capital expenditure of Rs 61 bn for the creation of new infrastructure, while Rs 73.1 bn was earmarked for revenue expenditure. With ISRO gearing up for several launches, the enhanced allocation boosted expectations around space exploration and advancements in space technology.
The other key initiatives included an announcement of a flagship programme on geospatial mission under the PM Gati Shakti framework. Against this backdrop, here are three space stocks to watch as the Union Budget 2026 approaches.
The majority of these businesses are diverse and offer services related to the space sector.
First on the list is CE Info Systems.
It is the parent company of MapmyIndia.
The company has established itself as a pioneer in digital mapping and geospatial solutions in India, steadily expanding its capabilities across high-definition maps, real-time geospatial analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms.
Its core strength lies in offering an integrated suite of Maps as a Service (MaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS), positioning MapmyIndia as a full-stack location intelligence platform. It serves businesses, government bodies, and consumers with digital maps, APIs, IoT hardware, and advanced analytics solutions across India and select international markets.
CE Info Systems is also a partner in national and state-level digital infrastructure projects, playing a key role under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework.
In February 2021, the Department of Space entered into a memorandum of understanding with CE Info Systems to collaborate on developing holistic geospatial solutions.
This partnership aims to leverage combined geospatial expertise and datasets across platforms such as MapmyIndia, Bhuvan, VEDAS, and MOSDAC, integrating Earth observation data, NavIC, and web-based APIs to build advanced location-based solutions.
With expectations of a supportive policy push for the space and geospatial ecosystem in the upcoming Budget, the company stands to benefit from increased government focus and spending.
On the financial front, over the past five years the company's revenue has seen a growth of 25.5%, meanwhile, net profit grew at a CAGR of 44.8%.
The company's five-year average ROE and ROCE stand at 19.6% and 26.6%.
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (Rs in m) | 1,525 | 2,004 | 2,815 | 3,794 | 4,633 |
| Revenue Growth (%) | 2.6 | 31.5 | 40.4 | 34.8 | 22.1 |
| Net Profit (Rs in m) | 598 | 871 | 1,075 | 1,344 | 1,476 |
| Net profit margin (%) | 39.2 | 43.4 | 38.2 | 35.4 | 31.9 |
| Return on equity (%) | 17.5 | 20.2 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 19 |
| Return on capital employed (%) | 23.8 | 27.7 | 27 | 27.7 | 26.9 |
Going forward, the company plans to expand its reach.
For more details, see the CE INFO SYSTEMS company fact sheet and quarterly results.
Next on the list is Genesys International.
It is a key player in India's fast-evolving geospatial and digital mapping space.
The company offers a comprehensive portfolio that includes standard-definition maps, high-definition ADAS maps, street imagery, intelligent speed assistance solutions, conversational AI, and advanced 3D capabilities such as landmarks and immersive navigation.
These are designed to enable safer, smarter, and more engaging experiences. It positions Genesys as a trusted partner for the next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles.
Genesys has also marked an important milestone by becoming India's first GIS company to associate with the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI).
This strategic partnership provides access to global best practices, advanced aerial mapping technologies, and an international collaborative ecosystem, strengthening the company's leadership in geospatial excellence.
On the domestic front, the company's work on an All-India 2D map is creating a robust foundation for accurate and interoperable GIS applications across governance and industry.
In addition, it has initiated projects to develop high-precision 3D city models for major Indian cities, which are expected to support advanced urban planning, infrastructure modernisation, and data-driven decision-making.
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, Genesys International stands to benefit from a continued policy and spending push towards the space and geospatial ecosystem.
On the financial front, over the past five years the company's revenue has seen a growth of 22.7%. Meanwhile the company turned profitable.
The company's five-year average ROE stand at 3.7%.
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (Rs in m) | 796 | 1,196 | 1,811 | 1,982 | 3,110 |
| Revenue Growth (%) | - | 50.4 | 51.4 | 9.4 | 56.9 |
| Net Profit (Rs in m) | -518 | -397 | 149 | 216 | 561 |
| Net profit margin (%) | 65.1 | -33.2 | 8.2 | 10.9 | 18 |
| Return on equity (%) | -29.9 | -19.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 10.2 |
| Return on capital employed (%) | -28.9 | -16.4 | 7 | 8.3 | 16.4 |
Going forward, the company remains focused on enhancing product maturity, expanding recurring revenue streams, and reinforcing its position as a preferred partner for mission-critical geospatial intelligence solutions.
For more details, see the GENESYS INTL. company fact sheet and quarterly results.
Next on the list is L&T.
It's a long-standing and trusted partner of ISRO across multiple technology streams in the space ecosystem.
The company is deeply involved in the manufacturing of rocket boosters, metallic and composite hardware for launch vehicles and satellites, and the establishment of ground test facilities on a turnkey basis.
It also collaborates with space agencies on developing advanced manufacturing technologies using new-age materials, while setting up satellite communication infrastructure and deep-space communication systems.
Today, L&T plays a critical role in the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of launch vehicles for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
L&T's played a significant role during ISRO's landmark 100th mission, GSLV-F15, which was successfully launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on 29 January 2025.
The company made significant contributions through the supply of S139 boosters, solar array deployment mechanisms, honeycomb decks, umbilical systems, and system-level integration of the launch vehicle and satellite.
With expectations of a further increase in budgetary support for the space sector in 2026, L&T stands to bolster from higher project inflows and sustained government spending.
On the financial front, over the past five years the company's revenue has seen a growth of 12%, meanwhile, net profit grew at a CAGR of 11.7%.
The company's five-year average ROE and ROCE stand at 13.9% and 18.2%.
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (Rs in m) | 13,59,790 | 15,65,212 | 18,33,407 | 22,11,129 | 25,57,345 |
| Revenue Growth (%) | -6.5 | 15.1 | 17.1 | 20.6 | 15.7 |
| Net Profit (Rs in m) | 46,690 | 1,02,911 | 1,26,249 | 1,55,697 | 1,76,874 |
| Net profit margin (%) | 3.4 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 7 | 6.9 |
| Return on equity (%) | 6.2 | 12.5 | 14.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 |
| Return on capital employed (%) | 13.2 | 16.7 | 17.9 | 21.3 | 21.9 |
Going forward, the company plans to expand its presence across the space value chain, leveraging its engineering expertise to participate in larger and more complex space and defence programmes.
For more details, see the L&T company fact sheet and quarterly results.
Apart from these names, stocks such as Cyient, HAL, IdeaForge, and others also remain on the radar as budgetary spending on the space and defence ecosystem is expected to rise.
The broader sector outlook remains encouraging. According to IBEF, India's space industry has grown to around US$ 8 billion (bn) (approximately Rs 664 bn) and is projected to expand to US$ 40-45 bn (about Rs 3.32-3.73 tn) over the next 8-10 years.
With nearly 400 space startups, the country is steadily building capabilities across satellite manufacturing, launch services, and space-based data analytics.
In addition, ISRO has set an ambitious target to increase India's share in the global commercial space market from less than 2% to 8-10% over the next decade.
Together, rising policy support, higher budgetary allocations, and a rapidly expanding private ecosystem are expected to significantly strengthen companies operating in India's space sector over the long term.
Investors should evaluate the company's fundamentals, corporate governance, and valuations of the stock as key factors when conducting due diligence before making investment decisions.
Happy investing.
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sridhar vetcha
Jan 18, 2026thanks for this article. All stocks except LnT have fallen big in last few months continuously in spite of decent financial and business growth. It would really help a lot if few lines are mentioned on the main reasons for continuous decline in prices (in addition to the market weakness). I sincerely hope equitymaster team would appreciate my request and cover this point in all future analysis. If this is not a valid request, i would like to know , thanks