India is all set to give the go-ahead for an ambitious mission to Mars, expected in November next year, a top space department official said today.

"A lot of studies have been done on the possible mission to Mars," Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation K Radhakrishnan told the media.

"We have come to the last phase of approvals," he said. "And I am sure that, maybe soon, we will be hearing an announcement on the Mars mission".