Union Minister highlighted India's space sector's role in transforming governance practices at ‘Space-Tech for Good Governance' Conclave hosted by Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership.
Role of Space Technology in Governance
- Resource Management:
- Mapping: Satellites like RESOURCESAT, CARTOSAT offer geospatial data for mapping land, water, and minerals.
- Agriculture: Provide farmers with critical data for crop management and productivity enhancement. E.g. Krishi-Decision Support System.
- Forest: IRS satellites assist Forest Survey of India in mapping forest cover, forest fires etc.
- Infrastructure: PM Gati Shakti leverages spatial planning tools and ISRO imagery to integrate infrastructure projects from various Ministries including Bharatmala, Sagarmala, etc.
- Social Sector:
- Enhance healthcare quality using space tech e.g. ISRO’s Health-QUEST.
- Boost tele-education with live lectures and interactive training in remote areas e.g. EDUSAT.
- Disaster Management: ISRO’s National Database for Emergency Management portal serves as national repository of GIS based data to support disaster management.
- Security: GSAT-7 and RISAT secure communications and border surveillance. Also, Mission Shakti (2019) showcases space defence capabilities.
- Transparency & Accountability: Use space technology for geo-tagging of MGNREGA assets launched in FY 2016-17.
India’s space sector faces criticism for allocating limited national resources to high-end space exploration, but its technology significantly enhances governance and drives socio-economic progress.
