Recently the Government of India announced that there would be two series of topographic maps in India for dissemination purpose. This is in adherence to the National Map Policy and keeping in mind the national security objectives that are to be safeguarded. The Open Series Maps (OSMs) are to be brought out exclusively by Survey of India, primarily for supporting development activities in the country. In the inauguration of Map India 2006 in Delhi on 30th January, the Minister of Science and Technology released the first set of OSM maps in India in print and digital format. OSMs shall have different map sheet numbers and will be in UTM Projection and WGS-84 datum. Each of these OSMs (in both hard copy and digital form) will be totally “Unrestricted”. SOI will ensure that no civil and military Vulnerable Areas and Vulnerable Points (VA’s/VP’s) are shown on OSMs.
