India has de-regulated map making and geospatial data generation distribution in the storage sector to provide a boost to the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission by the Modi government in order to make India self-reliant
The plan is to allow the Indian private sector to make and publish maps with geospatial features helping in the application of space technology as well as offering development-friendly outcomes across all sectors.
Geospatial data includes location info about man-made or natural, imaginary and physical features, irrespective of being above or below the ground and other statistical information factors like weather patterns, points of interest, natural phenomena, boundaries, mobility data, etc.
The next-gen mapping technology is growing to be ‘Atmanibhar’, as the government calls it. The policy will help innovators in the creation of substantial advances domestically in mapping. This will play a vital role in the upliftment of India as an Independent entity across the globe.
Over the recent years, the use of geospatial data has come into regular use by various businesses such as app-based delivery companies, telecom and banking etc. There has been a demand for a more granular, accurate, constantly updated and comprehensive representation of the geospatial data.
The government itself calls for similar data for national infrastructure projects such as the creation of industrial corridors, modernizing urban transport systems, deployment of smart power systems, and emerging initiatives such as Digital India and Smart Cities.
With more hands reaching out to join the cause, the process will speed up. Indian establishments will be freely using this data whereas the foreign entities and foreign-owned/controlled Indian companies can avail the license from Indian entities. The government is expecting an increase in investments in the geospatial sector by private companies.
There are radical changes announced by the government in regards to the country’s mapping policy via the liberalization of regulations on the geospatial data and maps. This would help us aim at making geospatial data & up-to-date map making in India itself. This would be another step in the list of efforts towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The already existing regime is not up-to-date, as it imposes restrictions on the mapping industry & requires Indian companies to follow a slow-moving system of pre-approvals and permissions to get licenses.
This policy will enable Indian innovators to create upgraded advancements in map-making domestically, and eventually play a role in the sector globally!
