Aug 09, 2024
GEOSPATIAL POLICY AND ITS IMPACT
The National Geospatial Policy (NGP) of 2022 aims to position India as a leader in the global geospatial sector, supporting national development, economic prosperity, and the information economy. It is built on the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) “Guidelines for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps,” which deregulated the sector and liberalized access to geospatial data. The goals of the NGP include:
• Innovation: Fostering an environment conducive to innovation in the geospatial sector.
• Access: Increasing access to spatial data, especially in remote and underserved areas.
• Governance: Integrating geospatial data into governance and development activities to enhance decision-making.
• Business: Simplifying business operations in the geospatial sector, encouraging growth and competition.
• Infrastructure: Developing robust geospatial infrastructure to support data collection, processing, and distribution.
Key Provisions of the National Geospatial Policy
1. Deregulation of Geospatial Data:
Indian companies no longer need prior government approvals to acquire, produce, and use geospatial data, facilitating easier access and use.
2. Restrictions on Foreign Entities:
Foreign companies are restricted from conducting ground surveys and mapping in India. They cannot collect, process, publish, or host high-definition maps (e.g., 360-degree street views).
3. Exclusive Rights for Indian Entities:
Only Indian entities are permitted to collect high-accuracy geospatial data, defined as finer than one meter horizontally and three meters vertically. Foreign companies can access this data only through APIs provided by Indian firms.
4. Open Data Access for Indian Companies:
The policy allows Indian companies to freely use and distribute geospatial data, promoting innovation and competition within the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What opportunities does the policy create for Indian companies?
The NGP facilitates greater freedom for Indian companies to innovate and compete, offering them exclusive rights to high-accuracy geospatial data collection and distribution.
2. How does the policy benefit various industries?
Industries like e-commerce, logistics, urban transport, agriculture, and autonomous vehicles benefit from enhanced geospatial services, improving efficiency and operational effectiveness.
3. What innovations have resulted from the policy?
The policy has led to innovations such as AI-driven routing, India-specific mapping features, and significant price reductions for geospatial services, spurred by increased competition.
4. Why are foreign companies restricted from certain activities?
These restrictions aim to safeguard national security and provide a competitive edge to Indian companies, ensuring that high-accuracy geospatial data is controlled domestically.
5. What legal issues have arisen from the increased competition?
Legal disputes, such as the lawsuit by MapMyIndia against Ola for allegedly using proprietary data to develop Ola Maps, have arisen due to the intense competition.
6. What is the expected growth of India’s geospatial market?
The market is projected to grow significantly, from Rs 22,940 crore in 2019 to an estimated Rs 63,000 crore by 2030, driven by broader adoption of geospatial technologies.
7. How does the policy impact employment?
The geospatial sector is expected to create over 10 lakh jobs, mainly through private companies, as the market expands and new opportunities emerge.
SRIRAM’s
