Geospatial guidelines 2021
Topic: Remote Sensing, GIS and GNSS · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The geospatial guidelines 2021 were issued on 15 February 2021. Geospatial data means any data tied to a place on the earth, such as maps, survey points and satellite images. Before this, Indian firms often needed government permission to collect or publish maps. Now Indian entities need no prior approval to collect, make or publish maps and data. The only exception is a negative list, a short list of sensitive attributes that stay restricted. The finest-resolution data is kept for Indian entities only. The guidelines changed map data from a guarded secret into something that can be openly used and built on.
Example
An Indian start-up in Bengaluru can now survey streets and make detailed digital maps for delivery or navigation apps without waiting for a government licence. It only has to avoid features on the negative list.
Don't confuse with
- National Geospatial Policy 2022: notified in December 2022, it is the long-term plan, with targets such as a national DEM (a digital height model of the land) by 2030. The 2021 guidelines were the earlier step that removed the need for approvals.
Related concepts
- Bhuvan
- Geotagging
- National Spatial Data Infrastructure
- Drone Rules 2021
- SVAMITVA scheme
- National Geospatial Policy 2022
- FASAL