The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, has taken an important decision to make the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) a mandatory feature for all devices. This decision comes in light after Apple iPhone 15 integrated the navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) into its hardware. Therefore, NavIC, which is not developed to replace global navigation systems but to complement them, is gaining recognition worldwide.
Government’s Plans for NavIc Integration on Smartphones
The Union government plans to mandate the integration of NavIC in all smartphones sold in India by 2025. The focus will be particularly on 5G phones. For using chips supporting NavIC technology, manufacturers could receive additional incentives through the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI), thus promoting domestic chip design and production.
Roadmap and Future Prospects for NavIC Adoption
In May 2023, to stimulate NavIC adoption, ISRO launched second-generation Navigation satellites. By enhancing interoperability with other satellite-based navigation systems, these satellites will expand usage. A third frequency, L1, will be sent as a signal apart from the existing L5 and S frequency. This step conforms with India’s aspirations to enhance technological sovereignty and ascend as a dominant space-faring nation.
About Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)
NavIC is an independent navigation satellite system developed by ISRO that became operational in 2018. It provides real-time positioning and timing services over India and a region extending around 1500 km surrounding the Indian Mainland. Consisting of seven active out of eight satellites, it operates 24×7 with its network of ground stations. Recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), it finds application in terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation; disaster management; vehicle tracking and fleet management; mobile phone integration; precise timing (for ATMs and power grids), and geodetic data capture.
Significance of Integrating NavIC in Smartphones for India
By integrating NavIC in Smartphones, India reduces dependence on foreign global navigation systems like GPS, demonstrating its ability to develop critical technology independently. This ensures control and security over the nation’s vital navigation infrastructure, which is crucial for national security and defense applications. Offering highly accurate and reliable positioning, NavIC is especially beneficial for the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions. It finds application across disaster management, agriculture, urban planning, transportation, inspiring overall efficiency and informed decision-making. Moreover, it is designed to provide superior performance under India’s geographic and topographical conditions and creates opportunities for location-based services and navigation apps specific to local needs, encouraging creativity and technological innovation.
Other Operational Navigation Systems in the World
There are four global operational navigation systems, namely GPS from the U.S., GLONASS from Russia, Galileo from the European Union, and BeiDou from China. Apart from these, there are two regional systems—NavIC from India and QZSS from Japan.
UPSC Civil Services Examination- Previous Year Questions
In the 2023 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question was asked about countries that have their own Satellite Navigation System. The correct answer was Japan. In 2018, the examination asked about the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with the correct statement being “IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.” The examination also required an understanding of why IRNSS was needed and how it helps in navigation.
