More than 250 start-ups working in geospatial space, says Jitendra Singh

While addressing the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh said that over 250 stat-ups are working in the geospatial sector in the country and the number is remarkable as space technology was opened for start-ups only two-three years ago.

He also said that the space technology functioned under a veil of secrecy and the area could be opened up for wider participation of the industry at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago.

He said that the regulations which were not absolutely necessary were were done away with The country jumping from rank 80 to 40 in the global innovation index is testimony to the progress achieved by the country during the last eight-nine years, he said.

He flagged the issue of technologies not being uniformly adapted across the world. While next-generation technology is increasingly available, its adaptability is not uniform across the world, he said. Some nations are quick to adapt, some late, he said. “Nevertheless, this is something we have to uniformly proceed globally,” he said.

He also highlighted that the geospatial economy holds growth opportunities and would also generate employment on a large scale.

India has been one of the earliest adopters of the geospatial technology, he said while appreciating organisations like Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and ISRO for their efforts.

He mentioned an experiment in mapping of roads and mapping of the land records under a programme called ‘SVAMITVA’.

Observing that India is in a position to offer cues for many of its collaborators, he said the country is constantly endeavouring to build its capacities and also to be self-reliant.

The country is looking forward to playing an important role as a component of the global economy when it celebrates 100th anniversary of Independence and technologies like geospatial technology would have a key contribution to make, he said.

Asked if the government is focusing on specific projects vis-a-vis geospatial technology in view of the country’s unique problems, Singh told reporters later that India’s problems are also its opportunities. The ‘SVAMITVA’ scheme of the Union government is a success story and the country is taking the lead notwithstanding the challenges, he said.

Replying to a query on space debris, S Somanath, Secretary, Department of Space and ISRO chief, said the Minister recently inaugurated the biggest facility in Bengaluru in which the ISRO continuously observes debris not only generated by India but the entire world.