In News:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of a National Geospatial Mission in the Budget 2025-26.

Key Highlights:

Objective: To modernize land records, enhance urban planning, and create a robust geospatial infrastructure to support India’s broader development goals, including sustainable growth, efficient governance, and improved public service delivery.

Key Features of the Mission:

• Modernization of Land Records:
  • Digitization and updation of land records using geospatial technology.
  • Aim to reduce land disputes and promote efficient and transparent land use.
• Urban and Infrastructure Planning:
  • Provides high-resolution geospatial data for informed urban planning.
  • Supports better design and execution of infrastructure through integration with the PM Gati Shakti framework.
• Development of National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI):
  • Integrates geospatial data from multiple departments and ministries.
  • Enables seamless access and interoperability for users across sectors.
• Open Geospatial Data Policy:
  • Encourages private sector participation by allowing access to non-sensitive, high-resolution data.
  • Reduces reliance on foreign geospatial data providers.
• Sectoral Impact:
  • Agriculture: Precision farming, resource mapping, and yield optimization.
  • Disaster Management: Enhances early warning systems and response planning.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Facilitates conservation, deforestation tracking, and ecosystem health analysis.
  • Transportation: Improves logistics, routing, and infrastructure placement.
  • Climate Monitoring: Aids in data-driven climate action and adaptation planning.
• Technological Integration:
  • Utilizes emerging technologies such as AI, drones, and quantum computing for spatial data collection and analysis.
  • Promotes research and development in geospatial science to drive innovation.
• Support to Private Sector:
  • Anticipated growth in demand for services from geospatial startups, drone companies, and mapping enterprises.
  • Strengthens India’s indigenous geospatial capability aligned with the booming global geospatial market (projected to reach $1,064 million by 2030).

Significance and Alignment with National Goals:

• Enhances transparency and efficiency in land governance.
• Contributes to sustainable urban development.
• Aligns with Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing data dependency on foreign sources.
• Acts as a foundational enabler for India’s development agenda, particularly in areas of resource management, climate resilience, and national security.