The Press Trust of India is report that, for the first time, India's space scientists have developed an electric propulsion technology that is expected to boost the life of geostationary satellites by as much as five years — the satellites which today have a lifespan of ten years could last for as long as 15 years.

The system is comprised of plasma thrusters and will be tested in a GSAT-4 spacecraft that's slated to be launched on board GSLV later this year, according to ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair. "Electric propulsion is going to be a unique thing. It will be used in GSAT-4. This is a concept we are going to prove in this (GSAT-4). Once proven, it can be adopted as standard for future geostationary orbits", he said. ISRO had been using chemical propulsion for station-keeping, altitude control, precision spacecraft control, stabilization and orientation.