Mains Daily Question
Dec. 30, 2022

Geospatial technology has applications in almost every domain of the economy. Comment. Also highlight how the National Geospatial Policy, 2022 will ensure an Atmanirbhar economy. (10 Marks)

Model Answer

Approach:

Introduction- Describe geospatial technology.

Body- Explain its multidimensional applications. Establish how recent policy supports domestic companies for self reliance (Atma Nirbhar)

Conclusion- Connect with future vision and global scenario.

Answer. 

The location and its coordinates define planet earth. The Geospatial information describes the physical location of geographic features and their relationship to other features and associated statistical information. Geospatial technologies is a term used to describe the range of modern tools enabling us to acquire data for contributing to geographic mapping and geospatial information.

 

Multidimensional applications of geospatial technology:

Logistics and Transportation. Tracking goods and ensuring their quality improves logistics efficiency. Identifying location and time of arrival, route making, and navigation contributing to better coordination for supply of goods.

Metrology. Referring weather forecasts to particular territories such as in monsoon forecasting which is crucial for the economy.

Forestry. Detecting forest fires and deforestation such as satellite monitoring of forest fires and deforestation in Amazon rainforests of Brazil.

Agriculture. Assessing the state of vegetation on a selected terrain, can be used to understand overall net sown area, extent of desertification etc.

Healthcare. Monitoring areas of epidemic outbreaks in context of rising man animal conflict and scope of pandemics such as Covid.

Ecology. Tracing species populations in certain areas, example of elephants in different regions of India, preventing and addressing intensifying calamities due to climate change.

Financial sector. Marketing and advertising ads in regions through knowing their priorities by geospatial information, in the insurance sector by managing risks in areas by historical georeferenced data analysis.

 

National Geospatial Policy 2022 recognising the importance of local data will help create an enabling ecosystem providing a conducive environment for companies to make India self-reliant in producing and using their own Geospatial data /information as also compete with foreign companies in the global space. 

It will help contribute to Atmanirbhar economy by 2022:

 In National development:-

Development of 14 National Fundamental Sectoral Geospatial Data Themes, to address sectors that support development of commercial geospatial applications in sectors including disaster management, mining, forestry etc.

 High resolution topographical survey and mapping, as well as a high accuracy Digital Elevation Model for the entire country to be developed .Example -Mapping of accurate data such as bathymetric data can help support India’s ‘Blue Economy’.

 

In Economic prosperity-

Enable data availability and access- Provides 13 year outline by 2025 to “support liberalisation of the geospatial sector, and democratisation of data for enhanced commercialization with Value Added Services.” Thus also enabling access to location data for companies by 2025.

Promoting use of National Digital Twin ( a virtual replica of a physical asset, process or service ), will promote an ecosystem to promote connected digital twins among businesses “with secure and interoperable data sharing.”

In Promoting Information economy:-

Formation of Integrated Data and Information Framework, under which a Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) will be developed by 2030.

Creation of apex body, Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC) to offer details regarding geospatial data use in governance across specific ministries, and enable development of private startups and companies to work on projects. 

 

India also has a well developed satellite ecosystem to be utilised in such technology. With multi-stakeholder holistic development, India can ensure Atma Nirbharta and become capable of framing global rules rather than accepting dictates from other advanced segments.

 

 

 

 

 

Subjects : Current Affairs
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