GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Indian Navigational Satellite | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation? (UPSC GS1 Mains)

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services. It covers India and a region extending 1,500 km (930 mi) around it, with plans for further extension.
Objective of Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System: 

• The objective of the project is to implement an independent and indigenous regional space borne navigation system for national applications. 
• For long India, like many other countries, had been dependent on the services that were being rendered by the foreign navigation systems. The usage and availability of satellite data depended largely upon how good relations were maintained with said countries.This technological dependency brought with it the grave vulnerability especially in the case of hostile situations. 
• The immediate reason to initiate indigenous navigation capabilities was Kargil War in 1999, when USA denied India access to vital satellite based information. 
• Before the launch of IRNSS, the availability so far of the satellite data was without any contractual services obligation that gave an easy escape for such service provider to withdraw their services at any point of time. 
• The system is expected to provide accurate real-time position, velocity and time observables for users on a variety of platforms with a 24 hour x 7 day service availability under all weather conditions How does it help in navigation? 
• The IRNSS design requirements call for a position accuracy of < 20 m throughout India and within the region of coverage extending about 1500 km beyond. 
• The system is expected to provide accurate real-time position, velocity and time observables for users on a variety of platforms with a 24 hour x 7 day service availability under all weather conditions 
• It give real time information for 2 services i.e. standard positioning service open for civilian use and Restricted service which may be encrypted for authorised user like for military. 
• It will help to mitigate the disaster effects by providing information of disaster timing, safe location and also help the disaster relief management to make earlier plans and save the lives of people in India as well as up to 1500 km around it.  
• It will help the mariners for far navigation and fisherman for get information about the valuable fisheries location and any disturbance in Sea. It will help to make friendly relations with others countries by providing real time information during any calamity or disaster for mitigates its after effect and for making early plans. 
• Hence, India has become one of the 5 countries having their own navigation system like GPS of USA, GLONASS of Russia, Galileo of Europe and BeiDu of China. So India dependence on other countries for navigation purposes has reduced on significant level.

Topics covered - Satellite Communication, Ocean Navigation System