Ministry of Science & Technology
National Geospatial Policy 2022
“Powering India’s Vision for Viksit Bharat”
Posted On: 27 FEB 2025 1:22PM by PIB Delhi
“The democratization of Indian geospatial ecosystem will spur domestic innovation and
enable Indian companies to compete in the global mapping ecosystem by leveraging
modern geospatial technologies and realising the dream of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ fully.
-Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of
Science and Technology
Introduction
The National Geospatial Policy, 2022, notified by the Government of India on
December 28, 2022, is a transformative policy aimed at positioning India as a global
leader in the geospatial sector. With a long-term vision extending to 2035, the policy
seeks to liberalize and democratize access to geospatial data, fostering innovation and
enabling its widespread use across governance, businesses, and academia.
At its core, the policy is citizen-centric, ensuring that geospatial datasets generated with
public funds are openly accessible. It outlines a strategic roadmap for the development
of geospatial infrastructure, services, and platforms at both national and sub-national
levels. One of its key goals is to establish a high-resolution topographical survey and
mapping system by 2030, alongside a highly accurate Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
for the entire country.
Recognizing the importance of geospatial technology in governance, economic growth,
and societal development, the policy focuses on strengthening institutional
frameworks, enhancing national and state-level coordination, and fostering a vibrant
geospatial ecosystem. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) plays a
pivotal role in this effort by promoting the reuse and open access of geospatial data,
products, and services through a network of geospatial platforms.
By creating an enabling environment for geospatial technology adoption, the policy is
expected to drive advancements in urban planning, disaster management,
agriculture, environmental conservation, transportation, and various other
sectors. This article examines the National Geospatial Policy 2022, focusing on its
alignment with PM Gati Shakti, budgetary allocations, the National Geospatial Data
Repository, and Operation Dronagiri’s impact on innovation. It also explores how the
policy fosters inclusion, economic growth, and private sector participation, ensuring
geospatial intelligence enhances governance, business, and public services across India.
Recent Allocations and Trends from the Union Budget 2025
In the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, the government has reinforced its
commitment to the geospatial sector:
Government of India has allocated ₹100 crore for the National Geospatial Mission.
This mission aims to develop foundational geospatial infrastructure and data,
playing a crucial role in modernizing land records, urban planning, and
infrastructure design. By leveraging PM Gati Shakti, the initiative will facilitate
integrated planning, enhance data-driven decision-making, and improve the efficiency
of infrastructure projects across the country. This strategic investment underscores the
government’s focus on harnessing geospatial technology for economic growth,
governance, and sustainable development.
To enhance public-private partnerships (PPPs) and support the private sector in
project planning, access to relevant geospatial data and maps from the PM Gati
Shakti portal will be made available. This initiative aims to streamline
infrastructure development, improve decision-making, and foster greater
collaboration between the government and private enterprises.
Vision of the National Geospatial Policy
To position India as a global leader in the geospatial sector by fostering a world-class
innovation ecosystem, leveraging geospatial technology for economic growth, and
ensuring easy access to valuable geospatial data for businesses and citizens.
Goals of the National Geospatial Policy
By 2025
Establish an enabling policy and legal framework to support the liberalization of
the geospatial sector and democratization of data.
Enhance availability and accessibility of high-quality location data across sectors
to drive innovation and enterprise.
Develop a unified digital interface for accessing geospatial data collected through
public funds.
Redefine the National Geodetic Framework using modern positioning
technologies, with online accessibility.
Create a high-accuracy geoid model for the entire country.
Strengthen national and sub-national geospatial governance by fostering
collaboration between the government, private sector, academia, and civil society.
By 2030
Conduct high-resolution topographical surveys (5–10 cm for urban/rural areas
and 50–100 cm for forests/wastelands).
Develop a high-accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (25 cm for plains, 1–3 m
for hilly/mountainous areas).
Establish a Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) underpinned by an
Integrated Data and Information Framework.
Enhance geospatial skills, capabilities, and awareness to meet future
technological and economic demands.
By 2035
Generate high-resolution bathymetric geospatial data for inland waters and
deep-sea topography to support the Blue Economy.
Survey and map sub-surface infrastructure in major cities and towns.
Develop a National Digital Twin for major urban centers, creating digital replicas
to improve urban planning and management.
Key Focus Areas of the National Geospatial Policy, 2022
Geospatial for Transformation & SDGs – The policy positions geospatial
technology and data as key drivers for achieving Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), enhancing efficiency across sectors, and ensuring transparency in
governance.
Atmanirbhar Bharat & Self-Reliance – Recognizing the need for locally relevant
geospatial data, the policy aims to foster a self-reliant geospatial ecosystem,
empowering Indian companies to compete globally and reduce dependency on
foreign providers.
Global Best Practices & IGIF – Adopting international frameworks like the
Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) under UN-GGIM, the
policy strengthens India's national spatial information management.
Robust Geospatial & ICT Infrastructure – Establishing a well-defined data
custodianship model to ensure the collection, management, and real-time
accessibility of high-quality geospatial data for cross-sector collaboration.
Fostering Innovation & Startups – Encouraging startups, R&D, and emerging
technologies, the policy promotes regulatory modernization and bridges the
geospatial digital divide.
Standards & Interoperability – Advocating open standards, open data, and
compliance frameworks, the policy ensures seamless integration and
interoperability of geospatial information.
Capacity Development & Education – Promoting geospatial education from
school levels, alongside standardized certifications and skill development
programs to sustain long-term industry growth.
Ease of Doing Business – Continued policy liberalization to attract investment,
facilitate business-friendly regulations, and support geospatial enterprises.
Democratization of Data – Survey of India (SoI) and other publicly funded
geospatial data will be treated as a public good, ensuring easy access and
utilization for all stakeholders.
Geospatial Policy Under PM Gati Shakti
The National Geospatial Policy (NGP) 2022 is closely aligned with the PM Gati Shakti
– National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity, a digital platform launched
by the Prime Minister to integrate 16 key Ministries, including Railways and
Roadways, for coordinated infrastructure planning and implementation. The
initiative aims to facilitate seamless multi-modal connectivity for the movement of
people, goods, and services across different modes of transport, ensuring last-mile
connectivity and reducing travel time. By leveraging accurate, real-time geospatial
data, NGP 2022 plays a critical role in streamlining infrastructure projects,
minimizing redundancies, and optimizing resource utilization.
PM Gati Shakti seeks to integrate infrastructure schemes across various Ministries
and State Governments. A key aspect of this initiative is the extensive use of
geospatial technology, including spatial planning tools developed by ISRO and
BiSAG-N. This integration enhances data-driven decision-making for efficient
infrastructure development and economic growth.
National Geospatial Data Repository: A Step Towards Seamless Data Integration
The National Geospatial Data Repository is being developed to serve as a centralized
platform for geospatial data management and access. This repository will consolidate
geospatial datasets from various government and private entities, ensuring seamless
data sharing, interoperability, and accessibility across multiple sectors.
With the increasing demand for precise and real-time geospatial intelligence, this
repository will act as a critical resource for improving governance, boosting economic
development, and advancing digital infrastructure. It aligns with the National
Geospatial Policy 2022, reinforcing India's commitment to leveraging geospatial
technology for sustainable growth and enhanced citizen services.
Operation Dronagiri: Transforming India's Geospatial Landscape
Launch and Overview
Operation Dronagiri, launched on November 13, 2024, is a pilot initiative under the
National Geospatial Policy 2022. The project aims to demonstrate the real-world
applications of geospatial technologies to enhance citizen services, business efficiency,
and governance. It is designed to integrate geospatial data, analytics, and advanced
mapping technologies to support multiple sectors.
Components and Implementation
In its initial phase, Operation Dronagiri is being implemented in five states—Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The project brings together government departments, industry partners, corporations,
and startups to drive geospatial innovation and ensure efficient utilization of spatial
data.
Integrated Geospatial Data Sharing Interface (GDI)
A key feature of Operation Dronagiri is the development of an Integrated Geospatial
Data Sharing Interface (GDI), which:
Facilitates seamless access and sharing of geospatial data across different sectors.
Supports applications in urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster
management.
Helps organizations make data-driven decisions for public welfare.
Impact and Future Expansion
The initiative is expected to enhance governance, boost economic efficiency, and
promote sustainable infrastructure development. By integrating geospatial technologies
with public and private sector initiatives, Operation Dronagiri envisions a nationwide
rollout under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
With India’s growing emphasis on geospatial intelligence, the project aims to transform
infrastructure planning, improve disaster response, and foster innovation in geospatial
applications—paving the way for a data-driven and technologically advanced India.
Empowering Inclusion and Progress: National Geospatial Policy 2022 in Action
The National Geospatial Policy 2022 (NGP 2022) underscores the Government of
India’s commitment to inclusive development by significantly expanding access to
geospatial data and related services. By democratizing location-based data, the
policy has enhanced citizen services, improved governance, and extended its
benefits to even the most remote areas of the country.
To implement NGP 2022, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has
strengthened the governance framework to liberalize geospatial data access.
Emphasizing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, DST is fostering self-reliance in
geospatial technology by empowering Indian enterprises to generate, utilize, and
commercialize their own geospatial data—enhancing their global competitiveness.
The policy further encourages the adoption of open standards, open data, and
interoperable platforms to enable seamless collaboration across stakeholders.
To further enhance geospatial infrastructure, the Survey of India (SoI) has launched
a pan-India Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) Network, ensuring
high-accuracy location data. Additionally, under the SVAMITVA Scheme, SoI has
surveyed and mapped over 2.8 lakh villages across Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and
Karnataka using drone technology, streamlining land records and property rights.
NGP 2022 is fostering a thriving geospatial industry by encouraging private sector
participation. Individuals, companies, and government agencies can now process,
build applications, and develop solutions using geospatial data. The promotion of
open standards, open data, and geospatial platforms has enabled enterprise
development and innovation, further solidifying India’s position as a global leader in
geospatial technology. To support technological innovation and entrepreneurship,
the policy is facilitating the establishment of incubation centers, industry
accelerators, and Geospatial Technology Parks. These initiatives are driving
research, fostering startups, and strengthening India’s geospatial ecosystem,
ultimately positioning the country as a world leader in geospatial innovation.
With its focus on expanding access, promoting innovation, and leveraging
geospatial intelligence, NGP 2022 is not just a policy—it is a transformative tool for
national development, economic prosperity, and a thriving digital economy. It is a
key driver in realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed
India), paving the way for a future driven by geospatial intelligence and data-led
governance.
Conclusion
The National Geospatial Policy 2022 is a significant step towards strengthening
India's geospatial ecosystem. By simplifying data access, promoting innovation,
and fostering enterprise development, the policy is creating a robust and dynamic
geospatial sector that supports governance, industry, and research.With initiatives like
PM Gati Shakti, the National Geospatial Data Repository, and Operation Dronagiri,
the policy is driving data-driven decision-making, infrastructure modernization, and
digital transformation. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat, geospatial intelligence
will be central to planning, connectivity, and national resilience. The National Geospatial
Policy 2022 positions India as a global leader in geospatial technology, ensuring that
location-based intelligence powers the nation's progress and prosperity.
References
PIB Press Release
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Santosh Kumar/ Sheetal Angral/ Vatsla Srivastava
(Release ID: 2106569)
Read this release in: Urdu , Hindi , Gujarati , Tamil , Malayalam
