Earlier this month, Indian Space Research Organisation chief, K Sivan, announced that India would be opening up the space sector for private companies.
Private sector companies will now be able to carry out space-related activities like building rockets and satellites and will be able to help with launch services.
#ISRO
— Inner Child (@Rishihyung) June 25, 2020
"ISRO Opens For Private Sectors"
Mukesh Ambani right now: pic.twitter.com/b852vIoFKg
This “major reform” will also allow private sector companies to be a part of inter-planetary missions carried out by ISRO.
This decision was made in order to utilise the space sector and boost the industrial base because India is among the handful of countries with advanced space technology.

But what does interest us are the memes that followed!
After the announcement, people took to Twitter to make memes about how this move would allow private sector companies to begin capitalising ‘space’ too.
Many memes revolved around Mukesh Ambani and his potential interest in entering the ‘space industry’.
Mukesh bhai, opportunity che!
*#ISRO Opens For Private Sectors*#MukeshAmbani be like : pic.twitter.com/tG4EQfUrow
— Aayush देशमुख ♥️🤓 (@deshmukh_aayush) June 25, 2020
Humme pata hai, pehele aap hi jayenge!
#ISRO opens for private sector
— Mr.Sarcastic (@MrKavi_dev) June 25, 2020
Mukesh Ambani: pic.twitter.com/uAFlIFMXB2
A lot of these memes also brought American aerospace tech entrepeneur, Elon Musk, back into the spotlight.
Usually, Musk manages to go viral on the internet because of his own behavior. But not this time.
#ISRO approves private companies to launch missions just like ELON MUSK did with FALCON 9.
— Inner Child (@Rishihyung) June 25, 2020
Indians: pic.twitter.com/eVblUZkmVV
When talking about competition in India, how can we forget Baba Ramdev!?
#ISRO
— अभय (@AbhayGaikwad92) June 25, 2020
"ISRO Opens For Private Sectors" BabaRamdev launches himself into outer space 🚀.....
मेरेको सब आता हे pic.twitter.com/3sUUWE54II
Now, the question is why did this announcement inspire so many memes?
Well, it provided the youth an opportunity to mock the high level of competition in the private sector.
A category of memes that is not only becoming more famous but are also very influential – political memes.

The youth is not only using memes to voice their opinions but also to talk about the political philosophies they follow.
Aasmaan bech diya re!
It took 50 yrs, greatest minds to make isro successful. #ISRO
— Buddhabhushan Londhe (@bbreaksinternet) June 25, 2020
le govt. pic.twitter.com/Ozf7eTrcoO
Naturally, this announcement brought about the wave of capitalism memes seeing how private sector companies now have an entirely new industry to compete in.
#ISRO#InSpace
— Divyanshu Bhardwaj (@DivyanshuB10) June 25, 2020
**Indian govt. opens space for private enterprises in space sector**
Le pvt. sector companies : pic.twitter.com/Uwyzk3Nhh8
This trend of memes about ISRO’s announcement made it evident that memes are also a form of social commentary and a way to spread news.
So when something as efficient and easy to make as memes, have so much power, brands should consider integrating them into their marketing strategy.

The only thing to keep in mind is to make sure these memes fit into the current trends and aren’t problematic — especially if they are political or topical.
Meme marketing can really work wonders for your brand!

And that’s exactly what our team of millennials at Youngun India is here to do for your brand!
Article written by Yusra Ahmed