Liberalising geospatial data policy will benefit every sector:Dr Sivan

Liberalised geospatial policy & space-based remote sensing policies to do wonders for country. Addressing the Golden Jubilee Discourse Series of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission Dr. K Sivan on Monday underlined that liberalising geospatial data policy will benefit every sector and reach these benefits to every nook and corner of the country. He added that space-based remote sensing policy along with liberalised geospatial policy is going to do wonders for the country bringing new avenues and would play a great role in making country ‘Atmanirbhar’.“Geospatial data is required for all the development works in all sectors, and it plays a critical role in governance and is well aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Dr. Sivan.“We are self-sufficient in space technology. India is the first country to use space programmes for domestic programmes, and our focus has been on producing indigenous, cost-effective technologies. But demand is increasing, and to unlock India’s space possibilities, participation of price sector has become necessary,” Dr Sivan pointed out.

Secretary, DST Prof Ashutosh Sharma, said that the overall impact of liberalisation of geospatial policy on the economy would be enormous, and apart from creating 1 lakh crore economy in geospatial sectors, there would be indirect impact in various other sectors leading to creation of millions of job in various sectors in the future.“Agriculture sector, one of the central sectors, is going to immensely benefit from it, and Swamitwa scheme is going to empower rural population and economy and help in solving land disputes that are going on for years,” Professor Sharma stressed. Prof Sharma said that geospatial guidelines will stimulate and empower Indian industry and surveying agencies without diluting security concerns.