Geospatial Policies, Acts and Regulatory Framework in India

Introduction

Geospatial technology deals with the collection, analysis and storage of spatial data linked to specific geographic locations on the Earth’s surface. In India, the legal and policy framework for geospatial data has moved from a tightly controlled regime to a more open, self-certification-based system for domestic users.

This shift has supported digital mapping, infrastructure planning, land administration and governance, while still retaining security safeguards for sensitive locations and strategic data.

Regulatory Evolution

• Pre-2021 regime: Acquisition, storage and publication of spatial data required multiple clearances from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Survey of India.
• National Map Policy, 2005: It divided maps into Defense Series Maps (for military authorities) and Open Series Maps (for civilian use).
• Restrictions under the 2005 policy: High-resolution mapping and aerial surveys needed prior approval.
• Remote Sensing Data Policy, 2011: It regulated distribution of satellite remote sensing data.
• Clearance threshold: Data finer than 1 metre resolution required clearance from an inter-ministerial screening committee before distribution to non-government users.
• February 2021 guidelines: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) issued deregulatory guidelines that removed prior approvals, security clearances and licences for domestic Indian entities.
• Policy shift: The framework moved from restrictive control to commercial openness and self-certification.

National Geospatial Policy, 2022

The National Geospatial Policy (NGP) was notified on 28 December 2022 and replaced the National Map Policy, 2005. It provides a long-term vision for the geospatial sector up to 2035 and aims to democratize access to data generated through public funds.

• Vision: Position India as a global leader in the geospatial space.
• Access to public data: Make publicly funded geospatial data more widely available for planning and development.
• Legal enablement by 2025: Create an enabling legal framework and redefine the National Geodetic Framework.
• Geoid model by 2025: Establish a high-accuracy Geoid model.
• Unified interface by 2025: Launch a single interface for publicly funded digital data.
• Topographical mapping by 2030: Complete high-resolution mapping at 5–10 cm in urban and rural areas, and 50–100 cm in forests and wastelands.
• By 2030: Build a high-accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and establish the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI).
• By 2035: Map sub-surface infrastructure in major cities, generate high-resolution bathymetric data for inland waters and deep seas, and create National Digital Twins of major urban centres.

Key Institutions and Governance

• Department of Science and Technology (DST): The nodal ministry for policy implementation and inter-ministerial coordination.
• Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC): The apex national body for strategy and policy guidance; it replaced the erstwhile National Spatial Data Committee.
• Survey of India (SoI): The national survey and mapping organisation responsible for primary geodetic networks and Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Operates satellite platforms, ground stations and spatial data portals such as Bhuvan and VEDAS.

Major Infrastructure and Use Cases

• CORS network: The pan-India Continuously Operating Reference Stations network provides real-time, centimetre-level positioning services.
• Survey advantage: It reduces the need for field teams to create local baseline reference points manually.
• PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: A digital platform integrating multimodal infrastructure data across more than 20 central ministries and state governments.
• GIS-based planning: It is used to reduce delays, optimise project routes and coordinate civil works.
• SVAMITVA Scheme: Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas uses drone surveys to map inhabited rural areas.
• Property cards: The scheme generates Svamitva Property Cards to support rural asset monetization and reduce land disputes.

Data Security, Thresholds and Foreign Entity Rules

• Self-certification: Domestic entities no longer need licences or prior security clearance for acquiring spatial data within the permitted framework.
• Threshold limits: Indian entities may acquire, process and store fine-spatial-resolution data up to 1-metre horizontal accuracy and 3-metre vertical accuracy without restrictions.
• Negative list: Sensitive military installations, nuclear facilities and strategic border locations remain restricted.
• Foreign entities: Foreign companies and foreign-owned platforms cannot directly own high-accuracy geospatial data or conduct mapping surveys.
• API-based access: They must source maps and location services through domestic Indian companies via API interfaces.
• Local storage: High-resolution spatial data finer than the threshold must be processed and stored only on servers located in India.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• DST: Acts as the nodal department for India’s geospatial sector.
• NGP date: Notified on 28 December 2022.
• Old policy replaced: National Map Policy, 2005.
• Apex body: Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC).
• Core change: Domestic entities now follow self-certification instead of prior security clearances.
• Important infrastructure: Survey of India’s CORS network enables centimetre-level positioning.
• Long-term targets: High-resolution mapping by 2030 and National Digital Twins by 2035.