<p>A few days ago, China successfully launched two high-resolution satellites under the China Siwei New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System, using its Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. These satellites enhance China’s precision-mapping capabilities and strengthen its position in the global geospatial market. <br>The United States has previously expressed concerns over China’s rapidly expanding remote-sensing capabilities, citing potential security risks. For India, this is particularly significant given its ongoing border disputes and economic tensions with China. In an era where technological advancements shape global dynamics, geospatial intelligence has emerged as a critical pillar of national security, economic growth, and environmental management.</p>.<p>Modern satellites and drones equipped with various kinds of sensors provide high-resolution, remotely sensed data that serve a wide range <br>of strategic objectives including natural resource management, hazard vulnerability mapping, facilitating economic growth by identifying mineral deposits and better developmental programme implementation through continuous monitoring.</p>.<p>In the military domain, high-resolution remote sensing satellites offer unmatched advantages in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They enhance a state’s ability to monitor potential threats, track troop movements, assess critical infrastructure developments, and conduct precision-based strategic operations. The capacity to collect and analyse satellite data ensures superior situational awareness, strengthening national security. Nations can leverage such capabilities not only to reinforce territorial claims but also to manage cross-border disputes more effectively.</p>.<p>China’s advanced surveillance capabilities provide it with a strategic edge in potential conflicts, making its expanding remote sensing network a concern for regional stability. Given the uncertain geopolitical landscape, India must prioritise the development of indigenous geospatial capabilities, to mitigate security risks and reduce external dependencies since reliance on foreign navigation systems can backfire, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine conflict where Russia was said to be jamming GPS signals around the Baltic sea, thus temporarily halting commercial air traffic.</p>.<p>Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data related to the Earth’s surface, with Earth observation satellites playing a pivotal role in this field. Many nations have developed their satellite systems to establish global navigation networks. While the US’ GPS remains the most established and widely used system, China’s BeiDou achieved global coverage in 2018 and surpasses GPS in satellite count and spatial resolution, offering a precision of one metre compared to GPS’ 4.9 metres.</p>.<p>India has made impressive strides in space exploration, particularly in deep-space missions. India’s development of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) positioned it as the sixth nation with an indigenous navigation system, marking a crucial step in its geospatial aspirations. However, progress in expanding its satellite network and integrating NavIC into public and commercial applications has been slow, probably due to limited coverage, device compatibility challenges, and market dominance by established systems like GPS.</p>.<p>While various US-origin companies have long dominated the commercial remote sensing industry, holding significant market influence, China has rapidly outpaced even the US in several key areas of the geospatial domain. China now leads in Earth Observation imaging, revisit frequency, multispectral capabilities, and long-wave infrared sensing – achievements driven by national policies, government incentives, and substantial private investment. Notably, India’s only representation in these rankings came from Pixxel in the hyperspectral imaging category.</p>.<p>The global geospatial technology market is projected to surpass $1,400 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of approximately 15%. China commands a significant share of this market, bolstered by government-led initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which expand its influence in geospatial data and services. As China cements its dominance in EO technology, strengthening indigenous capabilities, fostering private-sector innovation, and increasing investments in EO satellite development will be crucial for India to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving sector.</p>.<p><strong>Progress and challenges</strong></p>.<p>India has made significant strides in geospatial technology, integrating it into its national programmes like PM Gati Shakti, Mission Mausam, and PM SVAMITVA Scheme for infrastructural developments, weather monitoring, and land digitisation, respectively. The 2022 National Geospatial Policy marked a major shift by easing data restrictions and boosting private sector involvement. Additionally, the National Geospatial Mission received a Rs-100 crore allocation for the financial year 2025-26, reinforcing the government’s commitment to indigenous innovation. However, India’s investment in geospatial technology remains significantly lower than that of global leaders like China and the US, while ambiguities in data-sharing policies continue to hinder private sector growth. Additionally, the scheme incorporating this technology falls under the jurisdiction of multiple ministries which creates gaps in coordination and limits the efficiency of such initiatives.</p>.<p>India must accelerate the development of its geospatial infrastructure, enhance data accuracy, and implement robust regulatory frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring national security. Prioritising investments in high-resolution satellite technology, AI-driven data processing, and real-time analytics will be essential to competing with leading nations. Furthermore, fostering a highly skilled workforce specialising in geospatial intelligence is crucial. Increasing awareness and adoption of geospatial data among users will be crucial in unlocking its full potential.</p>.<p>Despite its growing significance, discussions around the geospatial sector are yet to become mainstream. To maximise the impact of the sector, it must be recognised as a distinct field, distinct from upstream space applications, with dedicated focus and investment. As data becomes the backbone of decision-making across multiple sectors, ensuring its accuracy, accessibility, and security is paramount. Strengthening domestic geospatial capabilities is not just a matter of technological advancement but a strategic necessity – one that will shape India’s economic growth, national security, and global standing in the years to come.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is a research analyst at the Takshashila Institution)</em></p>
<p>A few days ago, China successfully launched two high-resolution satellites under the China Siwei New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System, using its Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. These satellites enhance China’s precision-mapping capabilities and strengthen its position in the global geospatial market. <br>The United States has previously expressed concerns over China’s rapidly expanding remote-sensing capabilities, citing potential security risks. For India, this is particularly significant given its ongoing border disputes and economic tensions with China. In an era where technological advancements shape global dynamics, geospatial intelligence has emerged as a critical pillar of national security, economic growth, and environmental management.</p>.<p>Modern satellites and drones equipped with various kinds of sensors provide high-resolution, remotely sensed data that serve a wide range <br>of strategic objectives including natural resource management, hazard vulnerability mapping, facilitating economic growth by identifying mineral deposits and better developmental programme implementation through continuous monitoring.</p>.<p>In the military domain, high-resolution remote sensing satellites offer unmatched advantages in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They enhance a state’s ability to monitor potential threats, track troop movements, assess critical infrastructure developments, and conduct precision-based strategic operations. The capacity to collect and analyse satellite data ensures superior situational awareness, strengthening national security. Nations can leverage such capabilities not only to reinforce territorial claims but also to manage cross-border disputes more effectively.</p>.<p>China’s advanced surveillance capabilities provide it with a strategic edge in potential conflicts, making its expanding remote sensing network a concern for regional stability. Given the uncertain geopolitical landscape, India must prioritise the development of indigenous geospatial capabilities, to mitigate security risks and reduce external dependencies since reliance on foreign navigation systems can backfire, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine conflict where Russia was said to be jamming GPS signals around the Baltic sea, thus temporarily halting commercial air traffic.</p>.<p>Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data related to the Earth’s surface, with Earth observation satellites playing a pivotal role in this field. Many nations have developed their satellite systems to establish global navigation networks. While the US’ GPS remains the most established and widely used system, China’s BeiDou achieved global coverage in 2018 and surpasses GPS in satellite count and spatial resolution, offering a precision of one metre compared to GPS’ 4.9 metres.</p>.<p>India has made impressive strides in space exploration, particularly in deep-space missions. India’s development of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) positioned it as the sixth nation with an indigenous navigation system, marking a crucial step in its geospatial aspirations. However, progress in expanding its satellite network and integrating NavIC into public and commercial applications has been slow, probably due to limited coverage, device compatibility challenges, and market dominance by established systems like GPS.</p>.<p>While various US-origin companies have long dominated the commercial remote sensing industry, holding significant market influence, China has rapidly outpaced even the US in several key areas of the geospatial domain. China now leads in Earth Observation imaging, revisit frequency, multispectral capabilities, and long-wave infrared sensing – achievements driven by national policies, government incentives, and substantial private investment. Notably, India’s only representation in these rankings came from Pixxel in the hyperspectral imaging category.</p>.<p>The global geospatial technology market is projected to surpass $1,400 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of approximately 15%. China commands a significant share of this market, bolstered by government-led initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which expand its influence in geospatial data and services. As China cements its dominance in EO technology, strengthening indigenous capabilities, fostering private-sector innovation, and increasing investments in EO satellite development will be crucial for India to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving sector.</p>.<p><strong>Progress and challenges</strong></p>.<p>India has made significant strides in geospatial technology, integrating it into its national programmes like PM Gati Shakti, Mission Mausam, and PM SVAMITVA Scheme for infrastructural developments, weather monitoring, and land digitisation, respectively. The 2022 National Geospatial Policy marked a major shift by easing data restrictions and boosting private sector involvement. Additionally, the National Geospatial Mission received a Rs-100 crore allocation for the financial year 2025-26, reinforcing the government’s commitment to indigenous innovation. However, India’s investment in geospatial technology remains significantly lower than that of global leaders like China and the US, while ambiguities in data-sharing policies continue to hinder private sector growth. Additionally, the scheme incorporating this technology falls under the jurisdiction of multiple ministries which creates gaps in coordination and limits the efficiency of such initiatives.</p>.<p>India must accelerate the development of its geospatial infrastructure, enhance data accuracy, and implement robust regulatory frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring national security. Prioritising investments in high-resolution satellite technology, AI-driven data processing, and real-time analytics will be essential to competing with leading nations. Furthermore, fostering a highly skilled workforce specialising in geospatial intelligence is crucial. Increasing awareness and adoption of geospatial data among users will be crucial in unlocking its full potential.</p>.<p>Despite its growing significance, discussions around the geospatial sector are yet to become mainstream. To maximise the impact of the sector, it must be recognised as a distinct field, distinct from upstream space applications, with dedicated focus and investment. As data becomes the backbone of decision-making across multiple sectors, ensuring its accuracy, accessibility, and security is paramount. Strengthening domestic geospatial capabilities is not just a matter of technological advancement but a strategic necessity – one that will shape India’s economic growth, national security, and global standing in the years to come.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is a research analyst at the Takshashila Institution)</em></p>
