In a major step towards liberalization of the geospatial industry in India, the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the Self Certification Portal. Using the Portal will essentially cut down time spent on obtaining clearances and approvals drastically for Geospatial companies, researchers, academia, and innovators for carrying out Geospatial related activities.
The Portal launch is in line with the transformative ideas & announcements in the new Geospatial Data Guidelines released by DST on February 15, 2021, which has de-regulated all aspects of mapping activities in India from survey to sales. The Portal has been developed in collaboration with the National Information Centre (NIC).
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, commended the launch of Self certification portal. He said, “The Portal will streamline the process of creation of Geospatial Data, Maps, products, solutions and services with self-certification regime.”
Earlier, this process would take up around a year’s time in prior approvals and clearances before actually starting the work on the project. This resulted in considerable loss of time, resources, and business and development opportunities. The new Self-Certification Portal facilitates all entities engaged in Geospatial data-related activities to certify themselves easily within a few minutes. Thus there is much more freedom and prospects for the industry.
Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar Secretary DST said, “It will fast-track the Geospatial related activities. The liberalized Geospatial regime would play a pivotal role to modernize agriculture, manufacturing, construction, utilities, disaster management, urban development and governance. Individual companies, organizations, and Government agencies are free to process the acquired Geospatial data, build applications and develop solutions using such data and data products by selling, distributing, sharing, swapping, disseminating, and publishing without having to wait for clearances and approvals.”
The Self certification portal will facilitate entities engaged in map related activities to certify themselves quickly in a hassle free manner, and make the data accessible for all. The portal is developed on the basis of the geospatial guidelines released by the government of India in Feb 2021. Entities can be from the following categories:
1. Individual or Organization
2. Government or Private
3. Indian or Foreign
4. Engaged in production or sales etc.
Hence, geospatial data can be acquired, processed and can be used to develop applications and solutions as per requirement.
The Government of India released the new geospatial data guidelines in 2021, where they acknowledged the benefits of availability of comprehensive, highly accurate, granular and constantly updated representation of Geospatial Data in diverse sectors of the economy and that it will significantly boost innovation in the country and greatly enhance the preparedness of the country for emergency response.
They mentioned that the availability of data and modern mapping technologies to Indian companies is crucial for achieving India’s policy aim of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the vision for a five trillion-dollar economy. Currently, India presently relies heavily on foreign resources for mapping technologies and services. Liberalisation of the mapping industry and democratization of existing datasets will spur domestic innovation and enable Indian companies to compete in the global mapping ecosystem by leveraging modern geospatial technologies.
The new guidelines read, “The Indian Entities, whether in Government or outside, will be free to acquire, collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, share, publish, distribute, update, digitize and/or create Geospatial Data, including Maps, of any spatial accuracy within the territory of India including underwater within its territorial waters by using any Geospatial Technology.”
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