New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): India is intensifying efforts to build domestic geospatial and space-data infrastructure, responding to growing demand for satellite information, digital public services, and security applications, industry experts said on Monday at GeoSmart India 2025.
The four-day premier geospatial (GIS) conference, hosted by Geospatial World, highlighted the country’s push for stronger domestic capabilities driven by national security concerns and the need for reliable platforms to support land administration, climate planning, and telecom networks.
“The value of geospatial data is becoming central to governance and citizen services, and trusted domestic platforms will be essential,” said Rakesh Verma, co-founder of digital mapping company MapmyIndia. Officials noted that India has sharply reduced its reliance on foreign satellite data, which previously cost over ₹100 crore annually, following the government’s updated space policy and expanded national data generation. Rajeev Jaiswal, officer on special duty to the ISRO chairman, said India now aims to meet internal demand and eventually export high-value satellite data products.
Panels at the event underscored a shift from large-scale mapping exercises to applied, analytics-driven decision-making. Srikant Sastri, chairman of the government’s Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee, cited a Varanasi programme where integrated land, soil, and satellite information delivered personalized advisories to more than 26,000 farmers, enhancing crop quality and yield.
Industry leaders highlighted the increasing embedding of real-time geospatial systems into digital public infrastructure, including fibre deployment, emergency services, and municipal operations. Agendra Kumar, managing director of Esri India, noted that location-based platforms now underpin a wide range of governance and commercial operations.
Start-ups discussed a transition from supplying datasets to delivering end-to-end solutions, integrating sensing technologies, data analysis, and automated workflows. Firms such as NeoGeoInfo Technologies and ClimaCrew identified climate-linked geospatial intelligence as a fast-growing sector, driven by extreme weather events and risk-based planning needs.
While sovereignty in mapping and satellite infrastructure is a priority, industry experts stressed that it need not hinder private-sector innovation. “Sovereign systems go beyond satellites. They include power, storage, networks, and analytics layers that support both government and commercial users,” said Abhay S., CEO of SkyMap Global Aetosky. Speakers also urged stronger domestic manufacturing to mitigate vulnerabilities linked to imported space-grade components, with Sunil Indurti, director at Azista Aerospace, emphasizing the need for localisation to prevent supply disruptions affecting satellite production and launch services.
Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, highlighted that Indian companies, traditionally providing data infrastructure for global clients, are now developing AI-enabled platforms domestically. India is exporting geospatial data and services worth ₹19,000 crore globally, with the market projected to grow at a 12% CAGR, potentially accelerating further with heavy IT investment.
Experts noted that the evolving global geopolitical landscape is reshaping economic priorities, governance frameworks, and technological pathways. India’s space and geospatial ecosystem is rapidly progressing, driven by political will, policy reforms, and technological advancement, positioning the country as a key player in the emerging Autonomous Age defined by intelligence, automation, and precision.
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