The Department of Science and Technology released the draft National Geospatial Policy, 2021 (NGP) in May 2021. The prime objectives of the policy include fostering and developing a self-made geospatial ecosystem in the country as well as globally. It aims to encourage spatial thinking, generating geospatial knowledge, strengthening geospatial infrastructure, and promoting use of geospatial data, products, solutions and services (GDPSS) along with boosting geospatial entrepreneurship for socio-economic development of the nation.
Geospatial Data and Significance
Geospatial data includes location information about the natural or man-made, physical or imaginary features, whether above the ground or below, boundaries, points of interest, natural phenomena, mobility data, weather patterns, and statistical information, etc. These data are multidisciplinary in nature and extremely important in the context of national development.
It combines location information (usually coordinates on the earth) and attribute information (attributes of the object or event) with temporal information (time of which location and attribute).
There has been immense progress in the geospatial technology for capture of geospatial data through ground-based survey techniques, photogrammetry using manned/unmanned aerial vehicles, terrestrial vehicle mounted mobile mapping system, LIDAR, RADAR interferometry, satellite-based remote sensing, mobile phone sensors, and other techniques. But, India’s prevailing data regulatory is not well equipped to accommodate changes taking place in the realm of geospatial sector. The availability of such comprehensive, highly accurate, detailed, and constantly updated representation of geospatial data has the potential to significantly benefit diverse sectors of the economy and boost innovation in the country as well as enhance the preparedness of the country for emergency response.
In the absence of dependable geospatial data to access and use by various agencies, government and private, there is chance of duplication of data and wastage of resources. Moreover, the geospatial sector in India promises to generate employment, create a knowledge-based society, develop industrial sector, and overall socio-economic progress. The technology platform will integrate across spatial and non-spatial technologies. Its application can be used in a number of areas like land administration, urban development, utilities, disasters management, mining, water resources, banking and finance, etc.
As such, the National Geospatial Policy, 2021 was brought out with a mission to make India a global data powerhouse. The policy envisions to ensure high-quality, timely, and reliable data and information to address economic, social, and environmental factors which depend on location information in a continually challenging world and provide a basis and guide for developing, integrating, strengthening, and maximising geospatial information management and related sources.
Major Provisions of the Policy
The draft policy observes that there is an immediate requirement to augment the mechanism related to the completion and updation of large-scale maps for the country. There are provisions to give open access to geospatial services, including maps except sensitive defence-or security-related data.
A mechanism will be set up for completing and updating large-scale maps for the entire country. The high-resolution topographic database of the country will be made by the survey of India. A nation-wide global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and continuously operating reference stations (CORS) infrastructure network will be developed. The subsurface or underground which holds the vital functions of water and energy supply, communication systems, sewers and drainage will be dealt with a concrete strategy for mapping in 3D format. Inland water resources that support the blue economy will be provided with geographical data. The control mechanism will be applicable for geospatial data products, services, and solutions (GDPSS) under restricted category.
There shall be no requirement for security clearance, licence or any other restrictions. It provides for complete deregularisation for Indian corporations and innovators and they would require no prior approvals before collecting, generating, preparing, disseminating, soring, publishing, and updating geospatial data and maps within the territory of India.
In order to boost geospatial education and skill development, the policy seeks to establish a standardised geospatial curriculum across all India universities. The core of the curriculum will aim at enhancing geospatial thinking and geospatial knowledge. Special training programmes in industrial training institutes (ITIs), polytechnics, technical institutions, and private industries will be imparted. To facilitate use of geospatial data across multiple sectors, it proposes to establish a separate skill council for the sector. It entails to impart international standard geospatial science education from school to the university level.
Benefits
The comprehensive draft mentions multiple benefits of the policy. Liberalisation of geospatial sector will open up scope for improved agronomic management, reduced cultivation cost, and increased return on investment. The availability of high-resolution (spatial, spectral, and temporal data) satellite images will transform the precision farming landscape.
As per the industries estimate, the total worth of geospatial market in India is projected to grow nearly one lakh crore by 2029–30. The policy aims to create large-scale new jobs for services like surveying, map digitisation, content development, application programming interfaces (APIs) development, and data analysis, etc. Startups and business can use this data in setting up their concerns in appropriate areas. The e-commerce will grow rapidly taking help of India’s geospatial-based apps. Investment in the sector and increase in export of data to foreign countries will boost the economy.
Geospatial data will also help in monitoring the environment and reducing pollution.
© Spectrum Books Pvt Ltd.