The IRNSS, operationally named NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), is India’s indigenous satellite navigation system developed by Indian Space Research Organisation.
Need of IRNSS/NavIC
Strategic Autonomy – Dependence on foreign systems like GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), or Galileo (EU) poses security risks, as access can be denied during conflicts. Eg- During the Kargil War (1999), USA denied GPS data to India.
Sovereignty over Navigation – Provides India independent and reliable Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services over Indian territory and surrounding region.
Regional Coverage – Covers India and a region extending 1,500 km beyond its borders, ensuring accurate navigation across South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
Civilian Applications – Terrestrial, aerial, and marine navigation; vehicle tracking; disaster management; mapping and geodetic surveys; mobile phone integration.
Military Applications – Missile guidance, troop movement, naval operations, border surveillance.
Economic Benefits – Supports precision agriculture, fisheries, transport logistics, and infrastructure development.
How NavIC Helps in Navigation
Constellation – 7 satellites (3 in Geostationary Orbit, 4 in Geosynchronous Orbit) provide continuous coverage over the Indian region.
Dual Frequency – Operates on L5 and S-band, reducing errors caused by ionospheric delays and providing better accuracy than single-frequency systems.
Accuracy – Provides position accuracy better than 20 metres in the primary service area and 10 metres for restricted (military) service.
Two Services – Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian use and Restricted Service (RS) for authorised users (military, strategic).
Integration with international systems like GPS for enhanced accuracy and reliability.
Fishermen Safety – Indian Space Research Organisation provides NavIC-based communication devices to fishermen for receiving emergency alerts and location-based services.
NavIC represents India’s technological self-reliance in the strategic domain of satellite navigation, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.