Geospatial capabilities are dependent on geospatial data (data about objects, events, or phenomena that have a location on the surface of the earth). In the digital era, geospatial technologies are revolutionizing the economy. From navigating public transport to tracking supply chains and planning efficient delivery routes, digital services built on geospatial data have quietly become part of daily life and commerce. Given its significance, India has undertaken the following measures to boost its geospatial capabilities:

• Earth Observation Satellites: India has one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation; with varieties of instruments flown onboard these satellites to provide necessary data in diversified spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions.
• Establishment of dedicated institutions: Like the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, a constituent unit of the ISRO, National Centre of Geo-Informatics (NCG), GIS-based decision support system platform, under the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), etc.
• National Spatial Data Infrastructure: It has been implemented as a network of spatial data nodes established in various data-providing agencies in central and state governments to improve access to geospatial data by all stakeholders.
• Bharatmaps: It is a GIS platform, established by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which depicts the core foundation data as an integrated multi-scale, multi-resolution base map service using reference data from various agencies.
• Bhuvan portal: It is the national Geo-portal developed and hosted by ISRO comprising Geo-Spatial Data, Services, and Tools for Analysis with versatile features, like visualization of Satellite Imagery and Maps.
• India’s indigenous navigation system “NavIC” (Navigation with Indian Constellation): It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.

India’s focus on geospatial technologies is largely due to their varied application and significance in safeguarding the national security of India:

• Strengthening India’s intelligence architecture: Geospatial data overlying on high-resolution satellite images substantially enhances the precision and reliability of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. Further, a techno-centric gathering of data overcomes limitations of classical methods of intelligence gathering by enabling day and night and all-weather surveillance activities.
• Advancing situational awareness: With its unique ability of real-time monitoring, geospatial data can provide actionable insights for quick and secure decision-making to handle critical insurgencies. Tactical deployment enabled by real-time analysis of geospatial data acts as an effective tool for:
  • Strengthening Border Security and Coastal Surveillance System by mapping of terrain and hotspots of border crossing.
  • Preventing potential internal and external security threats by tracking infiltration and monitoring camps of terrorists, left-wing extremists, etc.
• Supporting military operations: Geospatial data plays a vital role logistically in the movement of troops, supplies, arms, and ammunition across the nation. It also helps in developing tactical plans, exploring terrains virtually, and facilitating communication in remote areas during military operations.
• Tackling new and emerging threats: Geo-spatial analytics can help to predict and counter new threats like cyber-attacks, hybrid warfare, stealth weaponry, etc., which endanger critical infrastructure of the nation. E.g., perpetrators of cyber-attacks can be traced by geo-locating online information.
• Precision-guided munitions: Geospatial intelligence and navigation systems are key to developing hi-tech weaponry like unmanned armed aerial/terrestrial vehicles, automated missiles etc. with capabilities for automatic target detection, intelligent manoeuvring, etc.

To further bolster its geospatial capabilities, India has signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA) with the USA enabling deep military cooperation between the two countries.