The Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday published the National Geospatial Policy, 2022. After liberalizing the use of geospatial data under the draft Geospatial Data policy in February last year, the central government has now outlined a 13-year guideline for the development of the geospatial data industry in the country, developing a national framework to use geospatial data for improving citizen services, and more.

Besides developing geospatial infrastructures, skill and knowledge, standards, businesses, among others, the policy aims to develop high-resolution topographical survey and mapping, and a high-accuracy digital elevation model for the entire country by 2030.

“The Policy takes it further by laying down an overarching framework for holistic development of the geospatial ecosystem. It spells out the vision, goals for the geospatial sector, and outlines the strategies for achieving them. It seeks to develop geospatial infrastructures, skill and knowledge, standards, businesses, promote innovation, and strengthen the national and sub-national arrangements for generation and management of geospatial information,” the Ministry said in a notification.

The policy will seek to develop a national geospatial data framework, and enable “easy availability” of information to companies and normal public. By 2025, the federal government will search to put in place an authorized framework that “helps liberalisation of the geospatial sector, and democratisation of information for enhanced commercialisation with worth-added providers.”

The government will also look to improve the availability and access of “better location data” for corporations, together with personal organisations, by 2025.

The authorities will look to set up an Integrated Data and Information Framework, beneath which a Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) might be developed by 2030.

By 2035, goals of usage of geospatial data include mapping of sub-surface infrastructure in major cities and towns across India, and development of high resolution, accurate bathymetric geospatial data (resources and economy of inland waters, and sea surface topography of shallow and deep seas) to support India’s ‘Blue Economy’.

To achieve these goals, the National Geospatial Policy, 2022 details the establishment and promotion of “geospatial data infrastructure” through a “well-defined custodianship model and data supply chain”.

The policy also outlines the creation of a national-level apex body, Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC), which will offer details regarding the use of geospatial data in governance across specific ministries and enable the development of private startups and companies to work on specific projects. 

It will also promote the use of a National Digital Twin, which refers to an ecosystem of high-resolution data to promote connected digital twins among private businesses “with secure and interoperable data sharing.”

The policy also details the development of 14 National Fundamental Sectoral Geospatial Data Themes, which will be used to address various sectors that support the development of commercial geospatial applications in various sectors including disaster management, mining, forestry and more.

Industry stakeholders welcomed the policy as a largely positive effort from the central government, in a bid to develop India’s fledgling commercial geospatial applications and businesses ecosystem.

“There are elements of enabling the private sector, but there are a number of enlisted national programs in it. So far, geospatial technology has not been assimilated well enough in governance mechanisms due to the absence of a framework,” said Chaitanya Giri, consultant at policy think tank Research and Information System for developing countries (RIS).

Image source: Bloomberg